Mildenhall NCO 'checks' out Air Force Chess Team

8/28/2002 - ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England (AFPN) -- Fourteen of the best chess players in the Air Force found themselves locked in intense competition last month in the 2002 Air Force Chess Championship held at Kelly USA, San Antonio.

At the end of round robin play, a technical sergeant from the 352nd Operations Support Squadron here found himself ranked with the top six chess players in the Air Force and a full-fledged member of the Air Force Chess Team.

For Tech. Sgt. Dan Ranario, aerial delivery flight superintendent, it was the culmination of a lifelong devotion to a "sport" that has long been a family hobby.

"I had an interest in playing chess when I was 10," said Ranario. "My dad was a very good chess player back in the Philippines, and this looked like my game.

"I like the challenge," he said. "I consider it a sport, just like playing basketball."

Ranario moved with his family from his birthplace in Manila to California in the 1980s, settling in the town of Turlock. He lost touch with the game for a while, distracted by other things growing up. However, Ranario's interest returned after he joined the Air Force in 1985.

"There was a good program on base when I was stationed at Ramstein (Air Base), Germany," said Ranario. "And every base I go to, if they have a chess program, I try to play and compete."

Ranario was encouraged at Ramstein by his friend and "sparring partner," Col. (Dr.) Samuel Echaure, who is now stationed at Yokota AB, Japan.

"It helps a lot to have someone who is interested in chess too, to be a sparring partner or a mentor," said Ranario. "He kind of guides and encourages me."

In order to qualify for the Air Force tournament, Ranario had to register with the U.S. Chess Federation. He received a provisional rating of 1,585. Players are rated based on skill level: a rating of 2,300 is considered a national master, 2,400 is an international master, and 2,500-plus is considered a grand master.

"This tournament was a challenge," said Ranario. "We played two games a day for seven rounds. I think my rating will improve because I played with 2,000-plus players and I'm on that level."

The games can last up to four hours, with each player required to complete 40 moves in the first two hours. Once that target has been reached, players are granted an additional hour each to complete the game.

One point is given for a win, a half point is gained on a draw and players receive no points for a loss.

Up next for the team is an interservice tournament in September against the top six players from the Army, Navy and Marines in San Diego.

Beyond that, Ranario devotes himself to the game and looks for every opportunity to improve.

"I have chess books which I look over," said Ranario. "I look over some grand master's games and learn a lot from them.

"My ultimate goal to be considered one of the grand masters. It's going to be a while. It's a study like getting a college degree. Even to gain 100 (rating) points is not easy. You have to do your homework and play a lot of games," he said. (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)