Checkmate: Asher Rivera wins at the game, draws at finding local opponents
Asher Rivera, 9, is well on his way to becoming a chess whiz. He learned the game just three years ago, as a second-grader, and has won first place at University Interscholastic League (UIL) competition all three years since. Now he’s competing at tournaments at Texas Tech University winning the third place trophy for his age division March 29.
The fourth-grader at Dalhart Intermediate School immediately gave credit where due, with Dalhart Elementary School chess sponsor and kindergarten teacher Rhonda Francis, who first thought Asher might be interested in UIL chess.
“I want to thank Rhonda Francis for teaching me the game.” Asher said. “I thought that it would be a stylish upgrade of checkers, but it’s not at all. I like the strategy of it, and the serious looks the other players get on their faces.”
Asher is the son of David and Rachel Rivera and brother of Alyra, a freshman at Dalhart High School. Only David plays chess, and that, occasionally, so traveling to Lubbock for competition is the best current solution. He next competes April 29.
“I would like to have more people to play with here,” Asher said. “I’d love to have a local chess team.”
Anyone interested in forming a local chess club is encouraged to contact the Dalhart Texan at 806- 244-4511 or editor@thedalharttexan. com.
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