Richmond Hill chess champ representing Canada
Adam McLean
May 29, 2012 - 12:08 PM
Age or lack thereof won’t be an intimidating factor for chess champion Jackie Peng, when she takes on some of the world’s best this summer.
At 14, the Grade 8 student will be the second youngest player to ever represent Canada at the Women’s Chess Olympiad and the youngest over the past 16 years. This year’s event will be held in Istanbul, Turkey and 125 countries are registered to compete.
Last year, Ms Peng won the Canadian Junior Girls championship and followed that up with a Canadian Amateur title. Her stellar results culminated with the Richmond Hill resident receiving an invitation to join Team Canada for the world’s largest team chess tournament.
While her teammates range in age from 20s to 40s, being one of the younger competitors in a tournament has become normal for Ms Peng. “I’m really excited for the Olympiad, because I get to represent Canada on a team and usually I just represent myself,” said Ms Peng.
“Even though I may be against some of the best in the world, I don’t think age of the player really matters when you are playing chess. A physical sport, then sure, but with chess you can be strong at any age,” she added.
Ms. Peng’s strong play has already taken her talents around the world for tournaments in such far flung places as Vietnam, Brazil, Colombia and Greece to test her skills against the world’s best.
Just two years ago, she finished 12th in the world under-12 championships.
She practises her chess skills nearly every day and, not surprisingly, Ms Peng calls math her favourite school subject, as it’s “easy”. Still, she manages to find time to hang out with friends, enjoys jogging and playing piano.
To help pay for some of Ms Peng’s trip to Turkey in August, a fundraiser will be held at the Oriole Community Centre, 2975 Don Mills Rd W., Toronto, June 17 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 and participants will have the opportunity to play against Ms Peng and other Canadian team members. For more information, visit ogcc2003.ca
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The FIDE World Chess Olympiad will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, August 27 - September 10, 2012. Goddesschess is hoping that fabulous young Canadian female players like Jackie Peng will choose to participate in the 2012 Goddesschess Canadian Women's Chess Championship in Montreal, Quebec, August 4 - 11, 2012 for a chance to represent Canada at the 2012 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship event to be held later this year in Russia. Expenses will be paid and in addition, modest cash prizes are available for the 1-3 finishers in this year's Goddesschess Canadian Women's Closed (a zonal event).
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