The Jenks Chess Club Challenge

By Chuck Unruh

On Monday nights the Jenks Chess Club meets and practices for the yearly OSCO Grand Prix tournaments and the chess simultaneous exhibition visit by National Chess Master Chuck Unruh. Under the guidance of Rod Whitlatch and his coaches, their scholastic chess team currently has grown to one of the largest clubs in Oklahoma with over eighty players. One of Rod’s coaches is my son, Charles.

I fully expected that many of my chess secrets were in the hands of the Jenks chess players for the upcoming November 14^th, 2005 chess simultaneous rematch. Rod at least warned me that this year I faced a seasoned group with superior skills and, of course, all of my chess secrets my son could give them. Along with an assorted table of chess prizes, the simul had a different twist. Unlike normal chess simuls, there was a very generous bounty fee on the chess master. The pressure was on!

Last year, 47 chess juniors took up the Challenge and the two hour event went into overtime. When Rod told me that 70 chess playing juniors had signed up for this year’s event, then I knew it was time to call for help. On Challenge night, Charles Jr. in his first simul ever played 35 boards to help the cause. I had a few games left as the event drew to a close when Charles came up behind me. I looked back and asked about the score on his side of the room. Charles smiled and said, “I’m done and just came over to help you.”

Better luck next year to the Jenks chess players! A big thank you to all of the organizers, coaches, volunteers and junior players for a very memorable event.