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Global 'chess boom' ripples through western Massachusetts

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Global 'chess boom' ripples through western Massachusetts


Normally, Alex Cespedes’ classroom is filled with fourth and fifth graders learning science and social studies. But on Thursdays, after classes let out, students at McMahon Elementary School in Holyoke, Massachusetts, pour into the room for a different reason: to do battle.

“That’s actually a very good move,” Rodman Parvin, who co-facilitates the after-school club the kids are all excited about, explained to two students on an afternoon in early May. “Because now it’s check again. And it’s a double attack.”

This is the Cheetah Chess Club, which Cespedes and Parvin started earlier this year. Despite the spring weather coaxing students outdoors, 16 kids showed up that day to push pawns, rooks, knights, bishops, queens and kings around the board. For some players, like Nicole Davis, chess is new. She and fellow fifth grader Tae’la Feliciano are moving pieces across the board, not worried too much about the rules. Others have been playing longer, like fifth grader JJ Rodriguez. He can confidently explain why he plays the Dutch Defense with the black pieces.

“The rook, bishop and knight are all lined up on the inside,” he said. “Because they are the stronger pieces.”

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‘Like a virus right now’

In recent years, there has been an upswell in worldwide interest in chess. For example, the website Chess.com’s servers repeatedly crashed last year under the weight of millions of new players gravitating to the game. It’s a trend that started in 2020 with COVID lockdowns and the hit Netflix show “The Queen’s Gambit,” and has continued as chess influencers get big on social media.

And that global “chess boom” has sent shockwaves through western Massachusetts, too, including at McMahon Elementary.

“It’s kind of like a virus right now,” Cespedes said, who sees students playing everywhere in school now. “If there’s any still or free time, they’re like, ‘Can I have the chess set? I will protect it with my life. I just want to play chess with my friends.’ And beat all the teachers. That’s what they really want to do.”

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Chess clubs in local libraries and other schools have grown in size, too. Sophie Argetsinger is the parent of a second grader at Northampton’s Lander-Grinspoon Academy. She grew up in the vibrant chess scene in Rochester, New York. So when Lander-Grinspoon approached her last year about running a chess club at the school, she was excited.

“The first time I held it there was like 20 kids who signed up, which is crazy because there’s only about 60 kids at the school in total,” she said.

Those numbers have shrunk a bit. But Argetsinger has organized two tournaments at the school in the past year and more students than she expected — from around the region — turned up to play.

“That might have a lot to do with the online presence,” she said of the game’s growing popularity locally. “There’s a lot of chess creators now that are making chess kind of cool and something everyone can engage with.”

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‘They thought it was a nerdy thing’

Ed Kostreba has been organizing chess tournaments in the region for around a quarter century. He directs the Western Massachusetts Chess Association, which last year had 308 people play in its tournaments. That’s more than any year since 1996, the year the world’s media focused its attention on Russian grandmaster Gary Kasparov as he beat the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue — a quaint notion nowadays, when computers are much stronger players than humans.

Kostreba said, back then, the association used to hold around six tournaments a year. That number has now doubled. He is hoping for even more growth in the coming years. However, he and others say there are challenges to keeping chess thriving locally.

“It’s tough because you have to get venues that are reasonable,” Kostreba said. “I’m working on a tournament where we collect entry fees, and paying back 80% as prizes. So that’s tough to do, and at some places the rents have gone way up and we can’t do it.”

On a recent afternoon, Kostreba was playing chess at the Friends of the Homeless shelter in Springfield, where he volunteers weekly

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Sitting across the board from Kostreba was Jay Williams, who has been playing chess for 25 years. He originally learned the game in the correctional system and says he has seen more people playing in recent years — and a more diverse group of players, too.

“A lot of people are definitely interested in chess,” Williams said between moves. “I would say when I was young in junior high school, people wasn’t really all that. They thought it was a nerdy thing. But now I would say it’s a cool thing now.”

Fierce competition

The chess boom has also hit home — for me. After decades away from the game, I found myself returning to it during the pandemic. And somebody else in my family took notice: my 6-year-old daughter, Sasha. She kept seeing me playing on my phone and computer and soon insisted I teach her.

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If I had guessed, I would have said she fell in love with chess because of the game’s beauty. The stunning tactics and complicated dance between pieces. But when I asked her, it was much more simple.

“Winning against Daddy,” she said with a big laugh. “The guy who always losed against me.”


This story is a production of the New England News Collaborative. It was originally published by New England Public Media. 



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Massachusetts

Massachusetts woman killed in crash on Route 495 remembered as gifted doll maker and crafter

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Massachusetts woman killed in crash on Route 495 remembered as gifted doll maker and crafter


A woman who was killed in a fatal highway crash on Saturday is being remembered.

According to Massachusetts State Police, at just after 3:15 p.m., State Troopers assigned to the Middleborough Barracks responded to a single-vehicle crash on Route 495 southbound in Bridgewater that resulted in the death of passenger in the vehicle.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu was traveling on Interstate 495 when, for reasons still under investigation, it went into the wooded median of the roadway and rolled over. The Malibu’s driver, a 79-year-old Mashpee man, was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The passenger of the vehicle, 74-year-old Lana Testa of Mashpee, sustained fatal injuries and was determined to be deceased by on scene medical personnel.

Friends say that the driver was Lana’s husband Dave.

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Lana was being remembered for her primitive dolls and craft show creations in addition to her contributions to Primitive Place magazine which led the publication to issue a tribute.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Lana Testa’s passing. Lana has been a dedicated supporter and contributor to A Primitive Place magazine from the very beginning. Her passion and creativity left an indelible mark on our community. As a gifted doll maker, Lana brought joy and inspiration to many through her exclusive creations, each one a testament to her extraordinary talent and meticulous craftsmanship.

“One of the cherished memories we hold dear is the feature in the Fall 2011 issue, where Lana and her husband David’s beautiful home was showcased. The image of one of Lana’s dolls “reading” that very issue stands as a poignant reminder of her contributions and the joy she brought to our readers. Lana’s dolls were more than just artistic pieces; they embodied her spirit, love, and dedication to the primitive arts.

“Lana’s legacy will live on in the hearts of those touched by her work. We extend our deepest condolences to David and the entire Testa family during this difficult time. Lana will be profoundly missed, but her memory will forever be cherished.”

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Services have not yet been announced.

The crash remains under investigation by Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and investigators from the Plymouth County State Police Detective Unit. Troopers were assisted by Brockton and Raynham Fire and EMS, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.



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Weather alert for fog in 6 Massachusetts counties until early Monday morning

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Weather alert for fog in 6 Massachusetts counties until early Monday morning


A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Sunday at 4:27 p.m. for fog until Monday at 5 a.m. for Southern Worcester as well as Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.

“The very humid conditions continue overnight, and will lead to more areas of fog. Patchy dense fog is expected, reducing visibility to one quarter mile or less in spots. Travelers should be prepared for rapid drops in visibility. Slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination safely,” according to the weather service.

Guidance from the weather service for navigating foggy conditions

If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the weather service in mind:

Moderate your speed:

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  • Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.

Visibility priority:

  • Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.

Avoid high-beams:

  • Refrain from using high-beam lights, as they create glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you on the road.

Keep a safe distance:

  • Maintain a generous following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifting traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

  • To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.

Zero visibility protocol:

  • In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.

Limited parking options:

  • If no parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far to the roadside as possible. Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these weather service recommendations, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.



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Police investigating deadly crash on I-495 in Bridgewater

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Police investigating deadly crash on I-495 in Bridgewater


BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (WWLP) – A woman is dead after a car rolled over on I-495 in Bridgewater on Saturday.

According to the Massachusetts State Police, troopers were sent to a single-vehicle crash on I-495 southbound in Bridgewater that left one passenger dead. After a preliminary investigation, it was determined that a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu was driving on I-495 when they drove into the wooded median of the road.

The car rolled over and the driver, a 79-year-old Mashpee man, was taken to the hospital for his injuries. The passenger, 74-year-old Lana Testa, died in the crash.

The left lane of 1-495 was closed for almost four and a half hours. The crash is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and investigators from the Plymouth County State Police Detective Unit.

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