“I can’t image having to leave my home and leave everything behind,” said Palo Alto High School student Kyle Cromwell, who helped organize the two-day chess camp
Twelve-year-old Tessa Wong stares down at her chessboard with an intense and quiet focus. Chess has been a big part of the seventh-grader’s life — she’s played since she was 4 — but this game may be the toughest and most memorable yet.
“I’m surprised I lasted as long as I did,” said Wong, who said she’s training in part to chip away at the male-dominated sport. “I need to look more and know what he’s planning next. He’s very good. I fell into a couple of his traps.” The students, who span in age from 7 to 16, are given pointers by the Ukrainian chess player as he takes turns playing each one in a semi circle of boards at Palo Alto’s Foothills Tennis and Swimming Club. In one instance, he tells a younger child to slow down a bit when making moves. On another board, Shtembuliak shows a child how he could easily checkmate them and gives them another chance.
PALO ALTO, CA – MARCH 27: Nadiia Salakh, left, of Ukraine works with students during a chess camp on Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Palo Alto, Calif. Proceeds from the from the chess camp will be going towards Ukrainian aid. “We figured it was getting a lot more dangerous there. You could hear the sounds . You never know. Is it our jets or their jets?” he said.Shtembuliak then got to the western border of Ukraine. While all men in Ukraine between 18 and 60 have been banned from exiting the country, he said he was able to leave by presenting paperwork that excluded him from military service. On March 10, Shtembuliak reached Slovakia and then traveled to Poland before reaching California on March 23.
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