Junior Brandon Carlson watched the checkered black and white pattern of the chessboard. The clock clicked down the seconds. Deep in thought, he picked up his final piece and placed it down. Carlson had to fight to keep the smile from spreading across his face. Checkmate.

For Carlson and the other members of Prospect’s chess club, this seemingly daunting game of chess has evolved into a community of its own.

“It’s more than just a game,” Carlson says, “It’s constantly trying to improve yourself and having fun along the way. It’s a journey.”

For so many of the members, chess has been a significant part of their lives. Some have played for upwards of ten years. This continuous effort has paid off as the team took 7th place at sectionals to earn a spot at the IHSA State Chess Meet in Peoria on February 13-14th as the #34 seed out of 128.

The team is excited about the new state sweatshirt to add to the large collection for the over 25 consecutive years attending state. However, the team hopes to accomplish something this weekend that hasn’t been done in over fifteen years. Go 5-2  at state. If you have no idea what that means, here’s some info.

In a chess tournament, eight games are played simultaneously by the two competing teams. First board is worth 12 points, second is worth 11 and down to eighth for 5 points. In the total of 68 points, the team with the majority wins. This process is then repeated six more times for a total of seven matches.

Out of those seven total matches, the team hopes to win five and only lose  two. Even going 4-3 at state would be a serious accomplishment,  but coach Matt Love believes it is possible with this team.

as the team pushes themselves to make such a historic outcome at state, the team stays as close as possible.

”It’s the same group of eight people,” says senior Carter Thomas. “Pretty much every Tuesday or Thursday you can see the people you’ve seen for the last three years.”

Many of the team members participate in other activities as well, and some of them  are in academic bowl together. The team is made up of all ages, freshmen to seniors, who can get together and enjoy a game many of them have been playing since they were children .

While silence is usually expected during chess, the team’s practices are anything but. The room is filled with laughter and smiles.

“They don’t take themselves too seriously. 

And they’re just all good people,” Love said. “We have a good, positive team culture, I’m proud of them for that.”

It has taken the team many years to be where they stand now. Just two years ago the team barely made it to state. It was only thanks to a last-minute adjustment that the team placed 124th seed out of the 128 teams.

The team has had so much individual growth as well as team growth. Many hours of practice has helped them to improve. Chess, however, is not for the faint of heart. Many members of the team have had to overcome situations of extreme stress and challenge.

“The hardest thing to do in chess is taking an advantage and converting it into an actual win,” Assistant Coach Jonothan Phillips said says. “You’re not allowed to just stop the game and say, ‘I’m better.’. You have to prove it.”

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