May 14, 2013

Students from Sudbury’s Collège Notre-Dame displayed great skill during the recent Franco-Ontarian Chess Tournament in Haileybury from May 8 to 10. This activity enabled the 235 student players to measure their skills in a discipline that requires much strategizing, memory and problem-solving abilities.

Collège Notre-Dame continued its long-standing tradition of excellence in chess by dominating the competition at the secondary school level. The team consisting of Zacharie Gagné (grade 12), Frédéric Rochon (grade 11), Marc-André Huneault (grade 11), Mathieu Girouard (grade 11) and Yannick Duhaime (grade 10) won the team trophy as well as the gold medal in the secondary school category.

The depth of the team was also demonstrated by the outstanding individual performances of several of its members. Yannick Duhaime (grade 10), Frédéric Rochon (grade 11) and Zacharie Gagné (grade 12) each won a gold medal in their respective age category. Frédéric Rochon and Marc-André Huneault won a silver medal in the Siamese Tournament while Frédéric Rochon won a gold medal in the Blitz Tournament.

During the tournament, the young chess masters from Collège Notre-Dame also had the unique opportunity to face the Cuban Grand Master and former world junior champion Walter Arencibia.

Their strong performance at the Franco-Ontarian Chess Tournament earned Yannick Duhaime, Frédéric Rochon and Zacharie Gagné the right to compete at the 2014 Canadian Youth Chess Championship in Montréal, this coming July 15 to 18.

“The students’ enthusiasm for these tournaments is quite impressive,” explained Collège Notre-Dame teacher Mrs. Andrée Duhaime. “Chess is a game that unites players from 4 to 18 years of age. They are passionate, happy, concentrated, emotional at times, but always very committed. I see a bright future for these youths who are acquiring polyvalent skills in problem solving and concentration without even being aware of it, not to speak of the development of their concept of fair play and feeling of accomplishment.”

The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario offers a French Catholic Educational Program that is widely recognized for its excellence. The CSCNO provides a quality learning environment and academic program that runs from early childhood to adult education, with some 7,000 students enrolled in 27 elementary and 10 secondary schools.

INFO:

Paul de la Riva
Communications and Community Development Coordinator
Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario
(705) 673-5626, ext. 294
(705) 677-8195 – cell phone