2008 Woodie Awards
CHESS CHAMP
R-N Student Wins Local Chess Tournament
ERIK BOLANOS,OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: News
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In a dominating effort, Zilbermints at one point ran off 13 straight victories in the tournament. His only loss came to National Master Arthur Feuerstein; however Zilbermints came back to beat him in a second game. In the final, he again did not lose a single game to the second place player, Fermin Arias and that clinched the tournament victory.
Zilbermints started playing chess at 7- years-old in Russia, which was then the Soviet Union. However, he recalled that his chess career almost didn't happen.
"My father, David Zilbermints, and I went to a store in Moscow. I remember Father asking me what I wanted to buy: a checkers set or a chess set? So what I did, I chose the chess set. That's how my choice of playing chess was made," he explained.
Zilbermints' father was his first teacher but Lev later went on to the Brooklyn Children's Chess School (BCCS) in Brighton Beach, New York.
Zilbermints recalls his experience of his experience, "I was the oldest student there, sitting besides kids who ranged in ages from 5 to 16. My teacher taught me about chess theory, better play, and strategy."
For his Blitz Championship victory, he won two trophies and a $50 cash prize. But for Zilbermints, his accomplishment means much more.
"To me, winning meant that the romantic school of chess," he explained, "with its slashing attacks and sacrifices that were popular in the 19th century and earlier, is still pretty much alive. And it proves that gambits and open positions are the heart and soul of chess."
Zilbermints can now add this victory to his other accomplishments such as chess champion of Essex County since 1995, chess champion of Monmouth County of 1997, and chess champion of R-N, 1999 - present.
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