The Mater Lakes Academy Chess Club recently won a local competition, collecting its sixteenth trophy in scholastic tourneys in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in the past four years under coach J. Michael Saunders.
The team is seeking to win additional competitions during the new school year, as Saunders expressed gratitude to his team for allowing him to coach them and competing against the best chess clubs in Florida.
“This is quite an accomplishment which makes me very proud of them,” Saunders said. “Just as important, they are good ambassadors when competing, always being respectful and courteous when playing the Royal Game.”
Saunders said in 2013, his son asked him to coach the school’s Chess Club and it was the best decision he ever made.
“With him knowing how much his father enjoyed the game, I’m sure he was confident of my response,” Saunders said. “Little did I realize at the time, what a wonderful experience this would be. The young players I have had the opportunity to motivate and guide through chess has also helped me become a better player since accepting the role of chess coach.”