This past August, the Shippensburg University Chess Club competed in the FIDE Open B tournament at the chess festival in České Budějovice, Czech Republic. Representing Ship were students Nathan Ziegler, Akit Murugan, Adolfo Alvarez and Alan Eisenhour, alongside faculty advisor Dave Kennedy.
The nine-day event brought together 61 players from around the world. Recent graduate in Information Systems and Analytics (ISA) and Finance, Nathan Zeigler, was awarded the first-place cup and was named a top-finisher in his rating bracket. Marketing major Akit Murugan placed in eigth, while software engineering major Adolfo Alvarez, along with Alan Eisenhour, each scored three points, outperforming their ratings.
Zeigler described the experience as being both exciting and nerve-racking. “I was quite nervous at first. Before the first round started, the arbiter was giving announcements in Czech, and I had no idea how good a lot of the players were. I came in as the sixth-highest-rated player; however, I wasn’t sure if that meant anything since a lot of American players don’t get the opportunity to play against European players.”
Despite feeling uneasy, Zeigler began the competition with five consecutive wins. His most memorable match was in round six, when he faced a young Azerbaijani player, Ali Naghiyev, who also held a perfect record. “It was my birthday, which made me want to win the match even more than usual, Zeigler recalled. “Stress is a weapon if honed well.”
The intense round ended in a draw, leaving both players tied for first place. “I had no doubt that Ali, my sixth-round opponent, would keep winning, so the pressure was on.” Ziegler won his next two matches, including one against his advisor, Dave Kennedy, before claiming victory in the final round. “When I won and my opponent from round six drew his last game, I don’t think I’ve ever had a bigger smile on my face than in that moment,” he said. “I’ve won some minor American tournaments, but never have I ever had so many people shake my hand after winning before. It felt like a privilege and an honor.”
For Zeigler, competing in Europe was a major change of pace from competing in American chess events. “In the U.S., when I play in a tournament, I’m expecting to play 8-12 hours of chess a day, he explained. “However, the České Budějovice tournament had a one-game-a-day schedule over nine days. The longest a game could last was around five and a half hours. This meant I had more time throughout the day to rest, study chess and have fun.”
The Ship chess team not only had the honor of competing, but they also got to explore the Bavarian Alps, the medieval town of Český Krumlov, and the famous streets of Prague. Beyond going to tourist attractions, Zeigler expressed that the trip reminded him of how chess provided him with a sense of community. “I’m always playing, and I’ve always been a big advocate for local chess. It’s a great way to stay sharp and you become a part of something greater than yourself,” he said.
Zeigler’s passion for chess has allowed him to build a campus chess community at Ship, where he mentors other players. “I’ve started becoming a tournament director and organized the Shippensburg Fall Open and Spring Open on campus so that more students can have the opportunity to dip their toes into competitive chess with the wider chess community, he shared.
Having recently graduated, Ziegler continues to play chess and promote the game to others. “Dr. Kennedy, the advisor of the chess club, has been a real inspiration to me, he acknowledged. “The Chess Club wouldn’t have existed for so long without him. Now, I’m dedicated to cultivating the chess culture as Ship as a volunteer at other colleges in Pennsylvania and within the wider chess community as well. ”Zeigler also works as a tournament director throughout the state and credits chess with helping him build long-lasting connections, including his first professional internship with Chess.com. “I’m also excited to help organize the first end-of-year Chess Club celebration and Alumni Get-Together,” he said. “Chess has given me lifelong friends and a community. Cheers to the chess community – it’s been a privilege and an honor.”
