May 2009
NSCF Grand Prix Award Finalists
Jonathan and Christian Baccay
Photos and Interview by Polly Wright
Sibling chess players are a familiar site at NSCF Grand Prix tournaments, and it is not uncommon to find them among the tournament leaders in their respective sections. After all, they have someone to practice with day and night!
Jonathan and Christian Baccay are one of two sets of siblings that competed frequently and successfully in the 2008-2009 NSCF Grand Prix. Jonathan won the Championship Grand Prix, and Christian placed fourth in the Elementary Grand Prix. (The other frequent-playing young siblings are Jason and Tyler Yung of Greenwich, CT. Jason finished third in the Primary and Tyler finished seventh in the Elementary.)
Jonathan Baccay is in fourth grade and Christian is in second grade. They attend Bedford Village Elementary School. They have been playing chess for about two years. I interviewed the Baccay brothers at the final tournament of the season.
How do you like playing in tournaments?
Jonathan and Christian: It's good.
What's so good about it?
Christian: Trophies.
Just the trophies? Or something more?
Christian: Yes, it's fun to try to win games.
What do you find exciting when playing?
Christian: The pride of winning games.
Who is your teacher?
Christian and Jonathan: Sunil
What's the most important thing you've learned from Sunil?
Jonathan: End game.
Why do you think that's so important?
Jonathan: Because I used to lose when it came to endings, and now I'm winning.
Christian: Opening, because I used to not open.
Didn't develop your pieces?
Christian: Yes.
What else have you learned?
Christian: Tactics
What else has helped you improve?
Christian: Books.
Does Sunil give you homework?
Christian: Yes.
Do you do it?
There's a pause at this point and his parents are laughing.
What kind of homework does he give you?
Christian: Tactics
Jonathan: He makes us read books, and see how the games go.
What books?
Jonathan: Best Lessons of a Chess Coach.
Excellent book.
I see you're both playing in Championship. Is this your first time playing in the same section?
Christian: Yes.
Jonathan:: No. We played at Hunter.
What's been your most exciting tournament this year?
Both: Super Nationals.
Was this your first nationals?
Christian: No. Played in Houston, Florida, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia
Jonathan: No that was World Open (Philadelphia)
So you've played in tournaments with adults?
Jonathan: Yes.
Do adults scare you?
Jonathan and Christian: No.
Do you think adults are scared of you?
Christian: No.
What about you, Jonathan. Do you think adults are scared of you and thinking "I'm going to lose to a little fourth grader."?
Jonathan: Nah!
What did you like best about Super Nationals?
Jonathan: Getting a trophy. (3rd under 1300 in K-5 Championship)
What section did you play in Christian?
Christian: K-3 Championship
How did you do?
Christian: Bad.
Why do you think that happened?
Christian: I barely won any games.
I changed the subject here for a moment and asked, "Which was your best Nationals?"
Christian: Houston. I tied for 10th place (1st grade section. 5 out of 7)
Do you think you learned anything from that not so good result? (Nashville)
Christian: I learned from my mistakes.
Why do you think you made mistakes?
He hesitated and I said, "It's good to think about."
Christian: I move too fast.
I think we all do that.
Are you playing in any tournaments this summer?
Jonathan: World Open under 1600.
Christian: World Open under 1200
Postscript: Christian finished in the money at the 2009 World Open, tying for fifth place in the under 1200 event with 6½/8. Jonathan also did well, scoring 4½/8 in an under 1600 event that was dominated by adult players.
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