On Sunday, May 31, the BC Athletic Center transformed into a competitive chess arena as 22 players took on two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion Jennifer Shahade in a three-hour simultaneous exhibition match. Players from the BC Middle School and Upper School chess teams made up much of the field, bringing BC energy, strategy, and no small amount of nerve to the occasion.

Shahade moved from board to board, facing each competitor in turn. Despite the determined efforts of all twenty-two participants, she finished the afternoon undefeated, defeating twenty players outright. Only two competitors managed to hold her to a draw, a result that drew well-deserved recognition from everyone in the room.

Beyond the competition, Shahade took time to share insights from her recent book, Thinking Sideways, a creative exploration of chess strategy and problem-solving. She spoke with students about the importance of thinking flexibly, recognizing patterns, and avoiding tunnel vision, lessons that apply as readily off the board as on it. Every participant left with a signed copy of the book, a fitting memento from a challenge well met.

View the Photo Gallery here