UT Dallas’ Drasko Boskovic battles arch-enemy chess opponent to a draw

by PegNews wire

UTD

Drasko (attempting to appear inconspicuous in the background, left of center) and his teammates prepare to pour bubbly into the first place cup. (At least, they ought to be.)

It must have really irked Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) chess wizard Sergey Erenburg: he - rated 132 points higher than his opponent, by whatever obscure egghead-savvy agency compiles such rankings - found himself forced into a reluctant draw in the sixth-round battle for chess bragging rights that was the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship of 2008.

That's because University of Texas at Dallas' Drasko "Wile E. Coyote" Boskovic mounted "an impregnable defense," leaving the frustrated Erenburg with no other option - unless he wanted to spend his New Year's holiday pushing pieces back and forth on the board of inconsequential battle.

As a result of that final tumultuous five-hour game, the UTD B Team (comprised of Coach Rade Milovanovic, IM John Bartholomew, the aforementioned IM Drasko "Wile E. Coyote" Boskovic, IM Jacek Stopa, NM Francisco Guadalupe and IM Salvijus Bercys) left the field of battle (i.e., the Dallas Fort Worth Marriott Hotel) with the first place trophy in their possession. (Because they won some sort of arcane tie-breaker by virtue of the sixth-round tie.)

Meanwhile, UTD's A Team finished fourth in the competition. (Which begs the question: why are they referred to as "the A Team?")

Said UT Dallas Chess Program Director Jim Stallings of the big win:

The sly dogs from UMBC aren't worried, however: they'll have another opportunity to snatch victory from the slavering jaws of also-rans on April 4-5, when they re-acquaint themselves with Drasko and crew for the Final Four of Chess (to be played on the UTD campus).

Gentlemen, it's time to pour some bubbly into that loving cup and share the love.

SAAA-lute!

posted by JM / source: UTD