RMC officer-cadet going to the NATO Chess Championship in Greece
March 25, 2024 - Defence Stories
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3rd Year RMC undergrad student OCdt Tomas Zaburdyaev plays chess during the 14th Canadian Military Chess Championship in RMC’s historic Currie Hall, from March 15 to 17, 2024. DND Photos by S1 Lisa Sheppard.
"I’m honoured to have the opportunity to represent RMC at the NATO chess championship for another year[…], I look forward to playing great chess and meeting more NATO members," said OCdt Tomas Zaburdyaev from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), upon his qualification for the team along with the new Canadian Military Chess Champion, Pte Burker Elyay, from the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics at CFB Kingston.
RMC hosted the 14th Canadian Military Chess Championship (CMCC), at which 36 players from coast to coast competed on its campus from March 15 to 17, 2024, to be selected to represent Canada at the NATO Chess Championship (NCC) in Greece in September 2024.
The RMC Chess Club volunteered yet again to host the 14th CMCC to allow for maximum participation of club members. The club has been active since 2012, and naval/officer cadets have been participating in the annual match with the USMA at West Point, the CMCC, and the NCC.
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OCdt Tomas Zaburdyaev is one of six players to represent Canada at the NATO Chess Championship in Greece, in September 2024. DND Photos by S1 Lisa Sheppard.
"It was an honour to host the tournament once again," said OCdt Tristan Baller, RMC Chess Club President. "Not only is the tournament good fun, it is also an amazing opportunity for RMC students to test their skills against the best players in the CAF."
Chess is considered the oldest military war game still played today and it favours the building of many essential skills in the military, such as analytic thinking, planning, decision making, tactical spirit and perseverance. Chess is accessible for everyone and contributes to developing military camaraderie and friendship.
The CMCC is an official competition under the International Chess Federation and the Chess Federation of Canada, and is open to active or retired CAF members, and active or retired DND civilians.
RMC’s unique environment, atmosphere and educational opportunities are just a few of the key reasons why so many of our students chose the Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP-RMC).