Shelbyville’s Povinelli excels in chess

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*Originally published online:
https://www.shelbynews.com/common/story.php?ID=4452&hl=Shelbyvilles-Povinelli-excels-in-chess This was a very good story because it allowed me to cover a sport I wasn’t really comfortable doing. The lead was very good to write as well.

In a room of the Povinelli’s house, there is a bookcase full of trophies from various chess tournaments. These trophies were won by Braydon Povinelli.

Shelbyville’s Povinelli began playing chess when he was in sixth grade. One day in November 2016, Ron Povinelli, Braydon’s father, and Braydon drove to the Boys Club. Four months later, Povinelli would play in his first chess tournament: the Indiana Chess Grade State Scholastic Championships.

After finishing second, Povinelli advanced to the National Junior High Scholastic Championships. He tied for first.

Since playing in his first tournament in the sixth grade, Povinelli has played in over 60 chess tournaments.

“He works really hard and he works almost everyday,” Ron Povinelli said. “When he gets home from school, the first thing he does is his homework. When he’s done, he works on chess.”

Now, Povinelli is a freshman at Shelbyville. He is a straight-A student with a 4.0 GPA. After school, he spends an hour-and-a half playing chess. In a week, he spends over 10 hours playing the game.

During Braydon’s hour-and-a half practice, Ron Povinelli said he plays online chess games and tactical puzzles. These games help Povinelli prepare for the various moves in matches.

“What I do a lot is calculate moves,” Povinelli said. “I try to formulate plans of what I want to do next.”

This year, Povinelli finished in a tie for second place at the Scholastic Chess of Indiana championship in January. With second-place finish, Povinelli qualified to play in the National Scholastic Championships in Schaumburg, Illinois this weekend.

What people might not know about chess is how long games last. A chess match lasts two hours. On any chess board, there are eight pawns, two each of rooks, knights and bishops and one king and queen.

At the championships this weekend, there are 1,700 players from grades K-12. Over three days, Povinelli will play seven games. According to Ron Povinelli, Braydon would play 30 hours of chess.

“I would say reaching these championships it’s definitely reflective of his work ethic,” Ron Povinelli said. “It’s probably why he’s a good student. He works hard at school and in chess.”