Centenary Games Blacktown vs Bouchaaya

Everyone was still fresh and confident at this stage. It was only move 2.

On Saturday, March 4 Tony Bouchaaya played thirtysix games simultaneously—thirty to begin and another six at the end of the first hour as defeated players, and a few obliging club members, were replaced by newcomers.

Tony was well equipped for the task. He is not only the Rooty Hill RSL Chess Club champion but a four-time Chess Olympian, having represented his native Lebanon from 1980 and 1988. Tony also won a bronze medal at the Asian Teams Championship at Dubai in 1988 before migrating to Australia.

Organised as part of Blacktown's Centenary Games, the Chess Challenge was played at Westpoint's new Level 4 entertainment area and attracted a crowd of passers-by who stopped to watch.

Blacktown Centenary Games Logo CLICK HERE to see our entry in the Centenary Sports Booklet

For a full page of Robert Ambalong's Pics CLICK HERE

To read the press reports CLICK HERE

Of the games played, Tony had 29 wins, 7 draws and no losses. Two competitors appeared to have a winning advantage but as the number of players at the table became fewer Tony arrived at their boards more quickly than before and, with less time to think, both men lost.

Draws were conceded to Adrian Rose, Bata Bagdanov, Frank Kresinger, Mike Weltner, Joshua Christensen, Knud Nielson and Elie Bouchaaya. Of these, Adrian needs no introduction; Bata Bagdanov is himself a former leading player who had a higher score than John Curtis when each did a simul at Bankstown; Frank Kresinger sacrificed a piece for a draw; Mike Weltner was a visitor from Taree; Knud Nielson who has been playing club chess for less than twelve months; and Elie Abouchaaya is Tony's brother-in-law (I guess chess runs in the family). I don't know anything about Joshua Christensen. To view Frank's game: CLICK HERE.

This position was attained by 9 year-old Shobana Bommireddipalli after 45 moves. She dropped another pawn about move 65 and Tony's pawns marched through. Not bad for a young-'un!

Friendly enemies: Tony vs Shobana That's Shobana's proud dad looking on.

The oldest competitor was 73 year-old Marco Brijeski but about half of the challengers were children, aged from 6 upwards. One of the most interesting games of the day was played by one of the two girls in the event, 9 year-old Shobana Bommireddipalli (see diagram). By about move sixty-five she had conceded two pawns and finally lost when Tony's remaining pawns proved too strong.

To read more about Tony's chess history and exploits, click on THIS LINK.

Thank you to all the club members who came along. Your help and support were appreciated. Especially thanks to Steve Cassettari who drove my car, did most of the carrying, and packed away all the equipment.

Thank you also to Michael Prestia of Westpoint who was on hand all day, as was Gary Payne of the Blacktown Centenary Sports Advisory Committee.Councillor Stephen Bali who has been a driving force behind the Sports Carnival also spent most of the day with us.

Especially, thank you Tony Bouchaaya. He worked hard for five hours with nothing to eat and little to drink and was always charming. He not only won his games, he won a lot of friends as well.

                              —Report:   David Evans

There were big posters of Tony, like this one, all through Westpoint.

They put it together:   Sports Festival Coordinator Gary Payne, David Evans, Blacktown Councillor Stephen Bali, Westpoint's Marketing Manager Michael Prestia, and "the Rooty Hill Gladiator" Tony Bouchaaya.