Mr. Lei's Office
"So, you're going out again? Mr. Andy said.
"Of course, you know me. It's all because of you guys. We promised to each other that were going to reach the highest peak of chess. When do you want to promote yourself?" Mr. Lei asked.
"I didn't mind staying at this level for now and also If I leave, who will watch and help these kids and after your game a while ago, you already know how strong they are specially that Ace and Chesster." Mr. Andy replied.
"You already have that junior of ours. I know that he can do it so ease up and catch up to me." Mr. Lei said.
"I can't still come. Let me think more about it and I want to see the growth of those kids." Mr. Andy replied.
"I'll be leaving tonight. I'm going to P9 CITY to meet Kevin. I'll be gone for too long because I'll need to prepare for my promotion. So, think about it, don't wait for the time that we are far enough for you that you can't even catch up to us." Mr. Lei said while gave a weak punch on Mr. Andy's chest.
After their conversation, Mr. Lei gave some VIP CARDS to Mr. Andy and told to him to distribute it whenever he wants. They bid their farewell to each other and after Mr. Andy leave the room. Mr. Lei sighed and smiled at the same time. He smiled that he remembered when he was still just a beginner who is so eager to play a match with everyone he met.
Nana Baket's Merienda Parking Area
Everyone is waiting for Mr. Andy. They are now inside the car and talking to each other about their roommates. They were nervous and excited at the same time because no one from them in the same room but they happy because they will meet a new friend.
Mr. Andy now arrived. They are now on their way to the academy dorm. Mr. Andy told everyone to don't get in trouble in the dorm and get acquainted to their roommates. He also warned them,
"If ever I got complains about you guys, I won't hesitate to disqualify you for the final selection. I maybe your adviser but I won't tolerate such behaviors."
Everyone seriously followed Mr. Andy's reminder. They now arrived at the dorm. All the teachers who facilitate the game were also there to supervise the kids and also to make sure the kid's safety. Mr. Andy thanked Mr. Norly and he apologized that there are not enough room for them to stay but he asked if he wants to join him in his dorm* and have a talk right there.
Mr. Norly agreed to him. Mr. Andy asked the other teachers to look for the kids for the night and he will go to his dorm and have some works to do.
The dorm was like a hotel that it has its own lobby where they can ask for their daily necessity like personal hygiene kits and even snacks. It's like a mini convenience store that they don't need to go out in the dorm at all.
The dorm was build intended for the new school year for their new school system. They never expected that there are more participants they anticipated to join. It is huge that it can accommodate 500 people. It is a four-story building which has 25 rooms per floor, each room can have a maximum of 5 people.
Everyone decided to go to their designated rooms to rest. Chesster looking for his room when someone shouted at him. It is his roommate who manage to see him passing the room he was designated. His roommate said, "Hello I'm Adam, this is our room. I saw you passed our room." Adam said.
"Ohhh. I'm sorry senior, I haven't noticed." Chesster replied.
"It's okay, you don't have to apologies. Just enter and greet our other roommates. I'm going to lobby to buy some snacks." Adam said.
Chesster thanked Adam and entered the room. Inside, he saw three more people out there playing chess. He greeted them,
" Good day seniors! I am Chesster from first-grade."
They stopped playing and the two were in shock. They know that Chesster was a strong one that they say that he can be on the top 10 in the beginner's category if he participated the two rounds he didn't played. Other than Chesster's team, the others didn't know what happened to him that day.
They greeted him and pointed his bed. After that Adam came back from the lobby. He put the snacks he bought at the table and said,
"Now that we are now complete. Let's start all over again to introduce ourselves." Adam said.
"I am Adam from the fifth-grade Advance Category. Let's be friend and aim for the club." Adam said.
"I am Romy from the third-grade Intermediate Category. Nice meeting you all" The one who's wearing an eyeglass.
"I am Max from the fourth-grade Intermediate Category. Thank you." The one who was playing with Romy.
"I am Rod from the third-grade Beginner Category." I hope to get along with you all." He looks awkwardly while looking Chesster. Unexpectedly, he was the one who should be playing with Chesster at the fourth round. He ranked #21 with a score of 6.5 points.
Chesster doesn't know that so he just introduced himself,
"Good day roommates, I am Chesster from the Second-Grade, Beginner Category. I'm in your care." He smiled at them and bowed.
"from now on. We are brothers, I wish all of us the best of luck. Let's win our matches and enter the club." Adam said.
Everyone started talking to each other while Rod was still on his bed sitting near the wall. Chesster approached and talked,
"Let's do our best tomorrow brother. Do you want to play?"
"Thank you brother. Let's do our best, I wanted to play but I'm tired and I am going to sleep after this." Rod replied. It's not that he's scared but he knows that he needs to rest for tomorrows match.
"We have more than an hour so let's have some fun." Adam said.
Everyone agreed except Rod. He said that he will sleep now because he was tired. Adam, haven't force him and respected his decision.
He asked everyone when they started playing and what is the reason why they want to join the club. As usual, he started to tell his own.
"I started playing when I was on my first-grade but I only play at the school until last year. I saw a match in the television and I decided then to be serious and here I am. My reason is to become a master and have a match with District Champion Lei."
They clapped and was amazed after hearing Adam. Chesster was thinking like he has heard the name Lei and suddenly he remembered Mr. Lei but he taught to himself that It maybe coincidence because Mr. Lei was the boss at the snack house.
Romy then followed and said that he started playing also when he was in his first grade and he just want to play chess. Then Max, He said that he started playing before entering the academy. He wanted to play chess because he wants his family to be proud to him. They applaud Max's story.
After that. It's Chesster's turn and said,
"I started playing last year. Also, like senior brother Adam, after watching a match in the television last year, I asked my father to teach me. My reason playing chess is to become the number one chess player in the world." And he is smiled at them.
Chesster stopped saying the World Super Grand… word because he knows that everyone will laugh if he said it.
"That's the confidence brother. Let's make our dream into reality." Adam said.
After that, Adam asked everyone if they want to play. Everyone agreed and they prepare another board and clock. They set the time to 30 minutes each player. At the start, Adam's motive was to have a match to Chesster and give him a beating because he was jealous. He was jealous that no one even cared about him on his first match a while ago unlike Chesster's first match which he gains the attention of everybody and even got an applause.
They started playing. Romy and Max were just playing carelessly. They are focus was on Chesster's match with Adam because both of them also wants to have a match with him. After a couple of minutes, they decided to have a tie so that they can focus on watching Chesster.
Chesster was serious on his match even though it's just practice. He moves very well that even the other two was in awe to him. Adam in the other hand now having a hard time because his pieces were cramped*. It is a close game, Chesster had the advantage because he got a Knight versus Adam's Bishop.
They are now on the end game and Chesster started attacking Adam's isolated pawns. He was sweating that he doesn't know what to do anymore. He was so confident a while ago that Chesster was just a fluke who got lucky on his matches.
After a minute, he decided to resign because he knows that he will be massacred if he keeps on playing.
"You are really good. Why did you play at the beginner category? Adam Asked.
"I am just a beginner senior brother. I just also learned how to notate moves a week ago." Chesster replied.
Everyone was in shock to what they have heard. Romy and Max couldn't believe it and now they respected Chesster like he was the oldest in the room now. Adam haven't talked for a while, after a minute, he decided to stop now because it's already near 8 o'clock and he was more pissed than being relief. He taught to himself,
"I don't believe it. He's just a first-grader how could be. He must have cheated."
He didn't show his true self to them and continued to act as a good brother to them.
"Okay everyone, let's end this today and make sure to have a rest. We need to wake up early tomorrow so let's go sleep now."
They nodded and agreed. They even asked Adam to go sleep first, and they will be the one to clean and fix the table. Adam haven't insisted and did go first.
Romy was praising Chesster about his match with Adam. He and Romy haven't won once or even draw to him. Chess smiled and said,
"I just got lucky. Senior looks like he was not focused."
The two looked at each other and agreed. They cleaned the table and started to take a shower before going to bed.
After taking a shower, Chesster sighed while lying on his bed. He thought to himself,
"I'm so deadly tired, but It's good. I've met a lot of new friends."
Max asked them if he can turn off the light because he said that he can't sleep with the lights on. Romy and Chesster agreed, so Max turned it off.
Two o'clock in the midnight, Adam was still awake. He can't sleep because of his loss to Chesster. He feels like he's having a nightmare remembering what happened last night. Furthermore, he thought to himself,
"I need to sleep now. I have a match today. Please let me sleep"
He is now having trouble in his sleep. He was now regretting playing with Chesster, now, he can't sleep.
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Good to know:
1. Cramped – Cramped Position, a piece which can have a little space to move.
2. Closed/cluttered game – a position which locks each other's pawn. In closed game, The knight has the advantage due to its unique movement.