www.roanoke.com

Elizabeth Taylor (left) and Andrew Bazak (right rear) watch as student Dru Knox competes against chess instructor Dennis Workman recently in the cafeteria of James Madison Middle School.

BRETT WINTER LEMON Special to The Roanoke TImes

With more than 100 students of all ages crowded into a school gym, the only sound in the room for hours was the sound of a hand smacking the game clock.

"It's kind of like a battlefield," said Roanoke City Public Schools chess coordinator Millard Owens.

"Some kids who have an attention deficit and act like they can't keep focused on anything join these tournaments and sit and play chess for three hours."

This degree of mental focus and strategy has drawn a number of area youngsters to the game. Most recently, some 120 students from Roanoke, Roanoke County, Bristol, Franklin County, Montgomery County and Virginia Tech spent their Saturday playing each other in ranked games at Fallon Park Elementary.

Some Roanoke standouts competed against more than 1,000 players and 500 teams from 40 states last month in the United States Chess Federation's 2009 National Grade Level/Collegiate Championships in Dallas.

Patrick Henry High School students who competed were: senior Bhavesh Patel, the team captain who placed eighth in the nation; sophomores Andrew Bazak, Grant Wilburn and Kimberly Russell, who placed seventh as a team in their section; and freshman Phillip Harmon. Siblings Elizabeth Taylor, a sixth-grader from James Madison Middle School, and fourth-grader Aiden Taylor from Highland Park Elementary School also competed.

Patel, 17, has been coached by Owens since first grade and said that the travel team has opened doors in his life.

"The first time I was ever away from home was playing chess with the traveling team," he said.

In the 10 years he's been playing chess, Patel said he's traveled to Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, Fla., and Kansas City, Mo., among other places.

Aiden Taylor, 9, taught his entire household how to play chess when he was 6. Since then, he and his sister have enjoyed the competition and opportunities for travel the game has brought them.

"I really love traveling. ... And being able to socialize with high schoolers is even better," Aiden said.

Aiden also said he likes traveling and being able to fly in airplanes. He said the mental challenge of chess is what keeps him competing.

"I sometimes get a headache but I don't care," he said.

Kristen Shelor, instructor and self-proclaimed "mother duck" of the group, said she couldn't be more proud of how the students excel in competitions and carry themselves on the road. She said that most students are involved in a number of other extracurricular activities in addition to chess.

Patel attends the Governor's School, Elizabeth Taylor swims and plays violin, and Aiden Taylor is involved with Cub Scouts. The three said no matter how busy they get, chess won't be going away anytime soon.

"Chess is going to stay with me my whole life," a smiling Patel said.