Chess federation holds first tournament in Cape

Jonathan Budil knew he was beaten.

Laying his black king in the middle of the board, he let out a sigh, looked across the table at his opponent and quietly said, "Thank you" as he shook his hand.

Budil, 34, was playing chess Saturday with opponent Jim Musumeci, 51, in the second round of the U.S. Chess Federation tournament at the Zimmer Radio Group/Bank of America building in Cape Girardeau.

"He had mate in one move," Budil said. "He knew it and I knew it -- only he knew it way longer before I did."

Ten men, ranging in age from early 20s to late 60s and in occupation from college student to college professor, took part in the tournament, the first of its kind in Cape Girardeau.

Budil, who organized the event, said there was a need for a local tournament because of the growing number of people playing chess in the area.

Before the formation of the Cape Girardeau club, chess players who wanted more than friendly competition would have to go to Piedmont, Mo., or Farmington, Mo., for tournaments.

Budil said Saturday's tournament was the first in this area, but not the last. He hopes to have a tournament once a month.

Even though the Cape Girardeau tournaments make it easier for local chess players to participate, it doesn't mean they'll be the only ones playing in them.

Two players from St. Louis, one from Piedmont and one from Carbondale, Ill., played in Saturday's tournament.

'I've always been athletic'

Larry Wells, 45, drove from St. Louis to play in his first tournament since 1987.

"I played a lot in the '80s and then played sort of sporadically since," he said. "I just started playing again in May, and when a friend told me about the tournament down here I thought it would be good practice."

Wells learned to play as a small child and said his competitive nature has kept him coming back over the years.

"I've always been athletic," he said. "Chess is very competitive. It gets my blood boiling and my competitive juices flowing."

Musumeci also drove from out of town to play.

He came from Carbondale, where he is a finance professor at Southern Illinois University. He said he enjoys the competition chess offers, but appreciates the strategy of the game much more.

"There are no constraints," he said. "There are so many things in life you can't do your way, but here you don't have to care what others think. This is where the best idea wins, not the most popular."

Musumeci had the highest U.S. Chess Federation rating in the group, more than 1900, slightly below the expert level, which begins at 2000. His opponents could tell.

"He's a really good player," said opponent Jason Ludwig, 23, of Cape Girardeau.

But that's to be expected from someone like Musumeci, who has been playing since the age of 5.

Chess and techno music

Ludwig, a triple major in philosophy, mathematics and computer science at Southeast Missouri State University, has been playing chess for only three years and has a rating of 1473.

He said he first found an interest in the game after watching the movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer." Since then, Ludwig has adopted a manner of playing unlike the other players in Saturday's tournament.

While the others sat quietly, listening to the sound of clocks tick, Ludwig was listening to techno music on his CD player.

"It has a fast beat, and it keeps you going," he said. "Complete silence is fine, but silence with distractions like people coughing or tapping their feet every other second drives me nuts."

After five rounds of play, Musumeci walked away with first prize, Ludwig took second and Roland Fulenwider of Jackson, Mo., took third.

Members of the Cape Girardeau Chess Club, along with anyone else who wants to play, meet at Barnes & Noble each Wednesday night. Budil said anyone interested in joining the club, or just playing a game, should come out Wednesday night.

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128