April 11th 2011
Written by: Jeffrey Barbieri
Dean of Chess attempts a new Guinness Book of World Record
April 9th 2011 – In the quiet town of Whitehouse
Station, Dean Ippolito starts his day. Today is not an ordinary day for him,
but a day to set a Guinness Book of World Records for chess. In order to achieve
this record Ippolito must play over 100 fierce competitors and have a win
percentage over 80%.
After all, Ippolito is an International Master Chess
Champion. He won his first National at the age of ten in St. Louis. He is
considered the top 30 chess players in the country.
He arrives at St. Ann’s school in Raritan, NJ at 9:30am. Rev.
Edmund A. Luciano III begins with a prayer and a blessing as the game begins.
Ippolito looks over his competition. There are 105 players,
ranging in age from six to sixty-three. He was hoping for a better turn out,
ideally, his goal was to play 136 opponents.
All players are eager to take him on. His wife Dawn is what
keeps him going emotionally and physically by supplying him with his bottles of
Gatorade, Power-bars, and the occasional energy drink.
This is a new world record category for chess. According to
the Guinness rules, players must have a minimum established United States Chess
Federation (USCF) or World Chess Federation (FIDE) rating of 1000. That means
everyone over the rating of 1000 is eligible; from Class D players to
Grandmasters.
Included in the official rules, Ippolito is not allowed to
sit. This requires him to eat and drink while standing during the duration of
the event and is allowed a three minute bathroom break. It is estimated he will
walk approximately 30 miles by the time the event has completed.
As the hours pass through the long day, Ippolito walks from
table to table making one chess move at each board at a time and slowly
knocking out his competition.
His winning streak of twenty thousand games is about to be
changed by four opponents.
63 year old Steve Stoyko of Middlesex, who himself was a NJ and Va. State
champ recalls playing a 7 year old Dean, won the first game of the evening.
22 year old Mike Wang
from Livingston, NJ, a member of USCF won the second game against Ippolito. “Dean
made small mistakes, but he’s a strong player.”
16 year old Kevin Santo of Breinigsville,Pa, a high school
Sophomore won the third game of the evening, Santo stated “I tried to get him
into some complex positions. Beating an International Master is not easy. I
hope my chess playing will help me with some of the cost of college.”
The fourth and final winner was Marvin Shemowitz – who left
the competition immediately after his win.
Post competition Interview
with International Master Champion - Dean Ippolito.
Dean’s father began teaching him the game of chess at two
and a half years of age. His first chess tournament was at Carnegie hall at the
young age of six.
According to Ippolito “My goal was overall win rate of 80%.Considering
there were fifteen expert Masters present, I took risks where I could and
controlled what I could. With Kevin Santo I got sloppy and offered a draw but
he resisted. I really thought it was going to be a draw. With Mike Wang, he
made the most of his chances and played well.”
What’s next for Ippolito?
“I will continue to teach kids the game of chess. As in life
you’re responsible for your own success and failures, each move you make are
your own. There were some kids that could have won but they chose not to take
the chance. Chess is more than just a game; the kids learn that every move has
a consequence just like there are consequences to every action and choice in
life.”
Watching this competition it is apparent that the game of
chess is an excellent learning tool for children and adults alike. In fact, Ippolito
trained the youngest National Champion in US History, Eric Liao who is now 14
years of age.
Unfortunately, Ippolito did not break the Guinness world
record because the record was recently challenged in Iran with 135 players. However, he did manage to break a few National
records that include playing the most number of Master level players
simultaneously, having an 84% win record against such strong players, least
losses against “professional” levels players.
To learn more about Dean Ippolito, and the game of chess
please visit his website at: www.deanofchess.com
or visit the store located at: Dean of Chess Academy – 3150 US Highway 22: (908) 595-0066.
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