Five of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 top young chess players were in North Delta over the weekend to help raise funds for the Surrey Food Bank.

The first ever Full Cupboard Chess Festival, held in partnership with Envision Financial and , got underway at the credit unionB次元官网网址檚 Sunshine Hills branch on Saturday, June 10. For a minimum donation of $5, participants could sit down for a one-on-one blitz game (five minute time limit) or take part in a B次元官网网址渟imulB次元官网网址� where one of the chess champs would take on multiple players at once.

World Chess Federation (FIDE) master and three-time B.C. champion Jason Cao was joined by FIDE master and two-time B.C. junior champion John Doknjas, FIDE candidate master and U16 B.C. youth champion Joshua Doknjas, World Open U13 champion Patrick Huang, and U12 B.C. youth champion Neil Doknjas for an afternoon of chess for charity.

B次元官网网址淭he fundraiserB次元官网网址檚 like a new thing,B次元官网网址� Cao said. B次元官网网址淚 think that itB次元官网网址檚 a really good idea because it helps others in need, and it also kind of introduces people to the game. Like, theyB次元官网网址檒l just be walking down the street and theyB次元官网网址檒l be like, B次元官网网址極h, letB次元官网网址檚 play some chess,B次元官网网址� right?B次元官网网址�

Watch as North Delta Reporter editor James Smith tries to beat three-time B.C. chess champion Jason Cao in a head-to-head blitz game of chess. (Story continues below.)

The 16-year-old travelled from Victoria for the event, as did 12-year-old Huang, to join SurreyB次元官网网址檚 Doknjas brothers in supporting , Envision FinancialB次元官网网址檚 community program aimed at raising food, funds and awareness for local food banks.

B次元官网网址淥ne thing about this is that itB次元官网网址檚 good to see the young people contribute to the community, as well as the community seeing the young people do this,B次元官网网址� said event co-organizer Victoria Doknjas of BC Chess Workshops, adding she hopes to make the festival an annual event.

B次元官网网址淭hese are basically five buddies B次元官网网址� and this is a great opportunity to just come out and donate their time and also help the food bank.B次元官网网址�

Although all five youth had played chess at community events before, the fundraising aspect was a new twist for most of them, and a new way for them to share the game they love.

B次元官网网址淚t was just really interesting, because every game is so different. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 become repetitive, if you know what I mean. Like, every time you play you get a different game and itB次元官网网址檚 just new possibilities,B次元官网网址� Cao said.

B次元官网网址淪omething I like about it is it kind of reflects your personality. If you play really attacking it kind of shows youB次元官网网址檙e an aggressive person,B次元官网网址� John Doknjas, 17, said. B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e more strategical it shows that youB次元官网网址檙e more [calm] and all that. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good mind exercise.B次元官网网址�

All that mental exercise has been good for each playerB次元官网网址檚 personal growth, helping them develop ways of coping with both success and failure. For example, Neil Doknjas, 12, recently competed at the Reykjavik Open in Iceland, where he placed 124th out of 150 competitors.

B次元官网网址淚t was an interesting tournament. Some of the top chess players [in the world] played in there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 was on the lower half of the whole tournament, so I learned from the games because I lost over half of them.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 used to lose and I used to get really sad and be like, B次元官网网址極h, I have no chance at winning the tournament,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Huang said, echoing his friendB次元官网网址檚 sentiments about learning to take losses in stride. B次元官网网址淟ike, at the U13 [World Open in Washington, D.C.] I lost, in the third round I lost, but in the end I actually won the tournament.B次元官网网址�

Despite being rained out an hour before it was scheduled to finish, the event managed to raise over $500, with all the proceeds going towards the B次元官网网址� which also services North Delta.

Anyone wishing to donate can still do so by visiting , where they can click on the B次元官网网址淒onate OnlineB次元官网网址� link and choose the Surrey/North Delta food bank.