Photo by Stephanie Klein-Davis

Om Patel, 6, of Roanoke County, a rising first-grader at Burlington Elementary School, plays in his second chess tournament Saturday against Dwight Scotten. Om, who was taught by his grandfather, says his favorite piece is the 'powerful' queen.

Om Patel, 6, prepped for his second tournament during a break Saturday in the Southwest Virginia Open Chess Championship.

The Roanoke County resident, who has been taught by his grandfather Harivadan Patel, loves a good match. His mother, Puja Patel, said her son played in his first tournament in July.

"It's my best thing and I like the moves," said Om, who is so little he kneels on his chair during a match. "The queen is my favorite -- she's a powerful piece."

More than 82 players from a half-dozen East Coast states gathered for the 2007 tournament on the Grand Prix Circuit sponsored by the Roanoke Valley Chess Club. Contestants, who range in age from 6 to 80, paid about $55 each for a shot at a total $1,800 in prize money in the three-day contest, said Tom Hales, chief tournament director.

Players concentrated fiercely, analyzing their options after their opponents' turns, as the games resumed Saturday afternoon inside the Howard Johnson Inn in Salem. Time clocks on the white-linen tables marked off the passing seconds. Players jotted down each move in a score book.

Chapel Hill, N.C., resident Walter High, 58, who had squared off against Om earlier in the day, said he took up chess last summer. High said he got tired of waiting in the hallway for 12 hours when his two boys played at tournaments.

Om "tried very hard, but he made several blunders so I ended taking most of his pieces," High said. "But, then I inadvertently stalemated him -- it's the one danger in chess when you're way ahead. So it was a draw."

Russell Potter, 58, a national chess master and a three-time Virginia state chess champion, said the players are divided into three categories: Booster, Amateur and Open. People play against contestants in the same skill level.

He said people come for the competition, fellowship, travel and simply for fun.

Chess "is kind of like brain candy," Potter said. "Chess players thrive on competition and tournaments. It's stimulating and forces people to reach beyond the couch-potato, TV-watching cultural norm."

Potter said he grew up with "a tough crowd" in Roanoke until the late Bristow Hardin, then-principal at West End Elementary, introduced him to the game. He said chess has been an anchor in his life. He holds the U.S. Chess Federation rank of Life Master.

"Chess kept me focused and disciplined instead of running with my buddies on Chapman and Patterson avenues," said Potter, who runs a business teaching people how to play the game. "Chess saved me from trouble."

He said the Roanoke Valley Chess Club has been indebted to the Roanoke Department of Parks and Recreation for allowing the club to meet in recreation centers around the city. The club, in its 60th year, is the oldest chess club in Virginia, he said.

Potter said the club meets Friday nights from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Grandin Court Recreation Center. He said the public is invited.