Chess Simuli

Term 2 Chess Club Simul with International Master Leonid Sandler

On Monday 25 May, International Master Leonid Sandler returned to Mordialloc College for the Term 2 simultaneous exhibition match, and the turnout was our biggest yet.

More than thirty students participated and spectated, a spread of year levels all crowding into the room to either take their seat across from Leonid or cheer on those who did. Playing the white pieces on every board, Leonid moved through the room with the same unhurried precision that has come to define these sessions, making his decisions in moments while his opponents wrestled with theirs for considerably longer.

As lunch wore on, the familiar atmosphere settled in. The noise dropped. Brows furrowed. And then, steadily, the boards began to empty. A few students mounted genuinely strong positions and held their ground deep into the session, giving Leonid more to think about than most. It was not enough, but it was impressive.

The most memorable moment of the afternoon, however, belonged to a student who managed to get checkmated in just three moves. This particular misfortune has a name: the Reversed Fool's Mate. It unfolds when White opens with 1. e4, clearing the diagonal for the Queen. Black responds with 1... f6, and White follows up with 2. d4. So far, so normal. But then Black plays 2... g5, tearing open the diagonal to their own king, and White finishes the job immediately with 3. Qh5#. It is one of the fastest checkmates possible, a reminder that in chess, as in life, sometimes the greatest danger comes from your own decisions.

By the bell, Leonid's record remained spotless. Every game had ended in either checkmate or a position so thoroughly lost that resignation was merely a formality. Another clean sweep.

Chess Club runs every Monday lunchtime in LC 5, and all students are welcome regardless of experience or ability. Whether you are determined to one day stop Leonid or simply looking for a good game, come along and pull up a board.

Tim Roche

English and Media Teacher

Chess Club Convenor