By Alan Liang
Gargoyle staff reporter & chess team member
Posted Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, The OG, news

[FINAL UPDATE: The Uni chess team finished 8th in the seven-round, 118-team IHSA state tournament. Alan Liang placed second on Board 6, the highest individual finish for a Uni player. Three teams withdrew from the original entry pool of 121. ]

IF YOU FIND that your chess friends aren't at school today, it's probably because they are making their way to state with coach Chris Merli and assistant coach John Garvey.

At 7 a.m., the Uni High chess team departed for the IHSA state tournament, held today and Saturday at the Peoria Civic Center.

Uni, which placed fourth last year, enters the tournament as the third-seeded team. Last year's champion, Niles North of Skokie, is seeded No. 1, followed by Whitney Young of Chicago, which finished third.

A total of 121 schools are scheduled to compete. Because the IHSA no longer has a small-school division for chess, Uni could go up against schools more than 10 times its size.

Nevertheless, the team is poised to surpass its finish in 2006, especially since no players have graduated from that squad.

The state tournament consists of seven matches spread over two days — four on the first day, three on the second. Here are approximate times of the rounds for Day 1:

Round 1 — 10 a.m.

Round 2 — 1 p.m.

Round 3 — 3:30 p.m.

Round 4 — 6 p.m.

In the first round, Uni will take on 31st-seeded Andrew High School of Tinley Park. The team will stay at a hotel overnight and begin playing again Saturday morning.

Here are Q&As with three of Uni's top chess players: sophomore Gordon Ruan, junior Alex Zhai, and senior Annie Liang. All three placed in the top five on their respective boards at last year's tournament.

GORDON RUAN — First Board (second place last year)

When did you start playing chess?
I started playing in fourth grade. That's six years, including now. I first got interested when a chess club started at my elementary school, Countryside. My friends wanted me to join, and soon afterwards I became interested in it. What inspired me to continue playing chess is when I went to my first tournament and won a first-place trophy in the unrated section.

How many trophies have you won?
I have won about 35, except I don't play in scholastic tournaments anymore. I'd rather earn money.

What is your USCF rating?
1985. I think I'm somewhere in the top 25 players in the United States for my age rating-wise.

What are your goals for state?
To end up in the top three.

How do you think the team will do against the stronger teams like Skokie Niles North and Lincoln-Way Central (seeded fourth)?
If we do play the stronger teams, I think it'll be a really good match and really close. If we lose, it'll be OK since we'll have good tiebreakers. If we win, then that'll be great.

ALEX ZHAI — Second Board (third place last year)

How long have you played chess?
Since first grade, so 11 years. But in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade I didn't do that much. I first seriously started chess through my elementary school chess team. It was exciting because we had a strong team and performed well at tournaments. However, over time chess has become a more individual endeavor for me, and I am no longer only interested with the result of the game.

How many trophies have you won?
Many … probably around 30 to 40. I threw away a lot.

What is your USCF rating?
1477, but it's expired. That rating is from sixth grade.

What are your goals for state?
I don't want to lose any games at state. We really want to get into the top three teams as a team, and if we can focus during every game I think we can do it. The team has more experience this year, and I think people have been gradually improving. We also have new players like Daniel Cheng and Brian Wang, who might be able to give us a boost on the lower boards.

How do you think the team will do against the stronger teams like Skokie Niles North and Lincoln-Way Central?
Realistically it will be very hard to defeat Niles North. A lot of good things would have to happen for us to win. However, we probably won't face two really strong teams. If we have only one loss, we'll still be in a very good position to take a high placing.

ANNIE LIANG — Fifth Board (fifth place last year)

When did you start playing chess?
I've been playing since I came to Uni. I knew how to play before that but didn't have the opportunity to do so often.

How many trophies have you won?
Do I have to answer that?

What are your goals for state?
Since it's my senior year, I really want to place in the top three and depart from these four years of state ventures knowing my team's done something truly remarkable. To tell you the truth, I'm rather anxious. I know we have strong players with a lot of talent, and I feel the opportunity's there, just waiting for us to grab it. Top three is quite possible — even a state championship is within reach. But we're facing tough competition. Niles North, Evanston, who beat us handily last year, Lincoln-Way Central, and even Normal U-High, our in-league rival, are incredibly strong — there aren't any guarantees about anything. Mostly I think we're just going to give it our best shot; top three or not, we're going to make the experience as fun as possible.

How do you think the team will do against the stronger teams like Skokie Niles North and Lincoln-Way Central?
Crush them, duh. Just kidding. Like I said earlier, I think it'll be tough. We'll be counting on Gordon and Alex to win, as always, and then the rest of us will need to pull off about two wins among the remaining boards. I'm sure I'll be able to give you a much more accurate answer to this question on Sunday.

How does being a girl affect your experience and play?
Well, uh, clearly it means my games are a lot more brilliant and interesting …
Aside from that, I really don't think it affects my play. I mean, unless there's a feminine style of chess I haven't heard about yet. As for my overall experience, people usually want to know if I'm ever uncomfortable. The answer is definitely no. Thinking ahead to state, we might even say I'm more comfortable because I'm going to get my own room, and the interviewer Alan here might end up on the floor again. Mostly I'm just regretful I never followed Mr. Garvey's suggestion and got a shirt that says, “I make boys cry.” It would have been good state apparel.

RELATED

— Gargoyle coverage, 2006 state meet: The little team that will?

— Gargoyle coverage, 2006 state meet: Ruan finishes second, team places fourth at state chess tournament

— Gargoyle coverage, 2006 state meet: A “little” team no more

— Gargoyle coverage, 2006 state meet: Photos: State chess meet 2006