Senior Gordon Ruan, one of the top chess players in the state, will lead Uni into this weekend's IHSA state tournament. Ruan, who is also a Gargoyle editor, provides a first-person preview of the action as the Illineks try for a top 10 finish.

URBANA — The Uni chess team will enter the IHSA state tournament Friday and Saturday at the Peoria Civic Center determined to improve on last year’s 11th-place finish.

My teammates and I will go into the tournament seeded ninth out of 121 high schools, and will play 37th-seed Frankfort Lincoln-Way East in the first round. Last year, we were seeded second entering the tournament.

"A number of teams this year have seen significant improvement from the addition of new players and the maturation of those already on the team," said chess coach Chris Merli. "The Uni team was affected by a couple of big graduations last year and is looking forward to another round of graduations this year."

What Merli is referring to is that the team will enter state missing two varsity players from last year: Alex Zhai, who placed 10th on Board 2, and Geoffrey Beck, who placed fourth on Board 3.

Although the team was weakened by graduation, we compiled an undefeated record in league play this season and won another East Central Illinois Chess League title, Uni's fifth in six years.

We finished the ECICL season 16-0, and I was fortunate enough to win the individual section, also with a mark of 16-0. Outside of league play, we won the Illini Classic, a tournament Uni hosts each January.

Senior Gordon Ruan (seated right foreground) ponders his next move during the Illini Classic in January. Photo by John Garvey (click to enlarge)

"I was originally of the opinion that this year's team would be challenged in the conference," said Merli. "However the players on the team have worked together and made great strides in their own play. We are very happy to have held our conference title and to have once again won the Illini Classic."

At state, all teams bring an eight-man team to play a total of seven matches, four on Friday and three on Saturday.

Each match can take up to approximately two hours, with each player getting an hour on the clock.

This is my final year on the chess team. I’ve been working a lot recently with my teammates to prepare them in time for state. My wish is to see my team members play their best chess and for us to finish strong.

Three years ago was Uni’s best finish since the IHSA did away with a two-class tournament system (small school/big school) in 1995. We took fourth at the state tourney in 2006. That year I was a freshman and finished second on Board 1.

The varsity squad that will play at state this weekend will consist of me (Board 1), senior Greg Atherton (2), senior Alan Liang (3), freshman Kathy Qiu (4), senior Brian Wang (5), junior Daniel Cheng (6), junior Danny Ge (7), and senior Richard Wang and sophomore Michael Meyer alternating on 8.

I am pretty confident that we will place in the top 10 this year. However, it will be much harder for us to go after the state title compared to previous years because we've lost Zhai and Beck.

Before 1995, the IHSA chess tournament had two classes: A for small schools, AA for large. Uni won six Class A state championships: 1978, 1979, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1994. History teacher Chris Butler coached the last four of these championship teams. Uni's six titles are tied for first in the state along with Evanston Township's half dozen.

Last year, even though the IHSA doesn't recognize a Class A winner anymore, we won the Illinois Chess Coaches Association trophy given annually to the top small school at the state meet.

"State is going to be a big challenge," said Liang, who will play third board. "In previous years, I really didn't feel up to it; I wasn't very confident in my chess abilities and I took some pretty bad hits. This year, however, I hope that my experience and my studying will give me the energy to play my best. Even if I can't win, I want to make my opponents suffer to beat me. Most of all, I would like for our team to win a trophy because we deserve it."

As for our prospects, Merli was realistic in his assessment.

"I believe this year the team will have to be mentally tough for the tournament because we face a more uphill battle," he said. "Last year a disappointing round badly affected our play in the next round. This year we need to stay better focused no matter how any one game or round goes. In many ways this year's team has done more than most past teams in that respect. I have been pleasantly surprised at how well they are playing and how they have taken some of my lessons to heart."

TOP 10 SEEDS AT THIS YEAR'S IHSA CHESS TOURNAMENT

• 1. Lincolnshire Stevenson (4,545 enrollment); 2008 finish: 1st
• 2. Skokie Niles North (2,195 enrollment); 2008 finish: 4th
• 3. Illinois Math and Science Academy (849 enrollment); 2008 finish: 12th
• 4. Chicago Whitney Young (1,958 enrollment); 2008 finish: 2nd
• 5. Naperville Neuqua Valley (4,520 enrollment); 2008 finish: 15th
• 6. Cary-Grove (1,888 enrollment); 2008 finish: 10th
• 7. Hinsdale Central (2,635 enrollment); 2008 finish: 16th
• 8. Evanston Township (3,070 enrollment); 2008 finish: 14th
• 9. UNI HIGH (245 enrollment); 2008 finish: 11th
• 10. Chicago St. Patrick (1,922 enrollment); 2008 finish: 6th

MORE PHOTOS: UNI CHESS

Coach Chris Merli lectures to the team. Gargoyle photos by Gordon Ruan (click to enlarge any photo and to create your own slideshow)

Seniors Alan Liang (left) and Brian Wang face off in a practice match. Faculty sponsor John Garvey is in the background.

Senior Richard Wang (center) plays sophomore Kevin Li, while Brian Wang takes a break from his own match.

Another view of Merli instructing the team.