Rising Chess Star Profile: Carter Lessard Carter Lessard is one of the SCA’s most active and successful competitors. Through December 31, 2013, Carter had earned more than 100 merit points and 17 trophies, including a 3rd place trophy in the SCA’s 2012 Tournament of Champions Primary section, and a strong showing (4 points out of 7) at the 2013 Supernationals in Nashville. Carter isn’t only about chess though – he has many interests, including activities like soccer, tennis, football, Lego’s, and comic books. He’s also a well-rounded student who enjoys math, reading and art. When it comes to chess, Carter has some definite preferences. For openings, he likes the Queen’s Gambit (for its surprise attacks) and the French defense. His favorite piece is the Knight. According the Carter, it’s because “it doesnt move like any other piece and easily evades others... and I really like how it forks other pieces.” Carter, who started playing chess at the age of six, knows that “practice makes perfect.” He studies and practices chess 3 to 5 hours each week, consisting primarily of openings and end games. His preferences and dedication have served him well; in addition to his strong finish in the 2012 Tournament of Champions, he brandishes a 1287 USCF rating at the time of this article. Not bad for a fourth grader!! Carter isn’t exactly sure what he wants to be when he grows up, but he knows he likes solving problems, designing things and building them. So, in his opinion, some kind of engineering career might be to his liking.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:01:10 +0000
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