Next move check, mate

MELBOURNE underdogs are turning international chess champions into pawns – and are ready to throw them on the barbie this summer.
Local heroes competing in the Australian Masters chess tournament at Noble Park are frying the experienced foreign opposition, organisers say.
The results won’t be decided until this weekend, but already Melbourne chess enthusiast Eddie Levi has knocked off Grand Master Dejan Antic from Serbia-Montenegro.
Noble Park Chess Club publicity officer Alex Malejewicz, whose club is hosting the World Chess Federation -approved tournament, said competition at the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Islamic Society hall had been intense since kicking off on Friday 15 December.
He said local chess players defeating international masters had been the highlight so far.
“It is a bit like someone from Melbourne knocking out Mike Tyson,” Mr Malejewicz said.
“And chess is like boxing, because if you make one mistake, you are stuffed.”
Mr Malejewicz said the tournament had attracted international chess players either on holiday, or hungry to play chess in Australia.
“The international group has 12 players and five of those are from overseas,” he said.
“We have got two Bosnians, one Serbian, one Filipino, one from England.”
Mr Malejewicz said a reserve competition was also being played, with the winner to play in a premier tournament next year.
In that competition is another international – Rashid Abdulwahab from Iraq – with a background not common among chess players.
“He was tortured by Saddam Hussein,” Mr Malejewicz said.
The club is hoping the high-profile event will spark local interest in chess.
For those wanting to learn more about chess, or even join the Noble Park Chess Club, contact Dom on 0421 896 365, Carl on 9528 6452 or Alex on 9532 7885.