AJune 18 1989
The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Sunday, June 18, 1989
CONCENTRATION — John Soniak of Wilkes-Barre, seated, and chess grandmaster Arthur Bisguier contemplate their next moves. Times Leader Photos/Alejandro A. Alvarez
 Bisguier/at a glance |
Playing With The Master—Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier played 33 challengers in a simultaneous chess exhibition at the West Side Mall Saturday.
Checkmate!
Chess grandmaster beats all comers
By Mary Therese Biebel, Times Leader Social Editor
After handily beating more than 30 regional chess players at their favorite game, grandmaster Arthur Bisguier finally had a chance to sit down and rest.
For two hours Saturday afternoon the 59-year-old national chess champion strode rapidly up and down a hallway at the West Side Mall, stopping briefly at each of a series of tables to make a move against his many challengers.
He made short work of some players, who rolled up their portable chess boards and were promptly replaced by new recruits.
Others put up a good fight, but eventually—inevitably, it seemed—they, too, lost to the master from the Catskills.
Finally there was one only challenger left, and Bisguier had a chance to sit down across the table from Joseph Androski, a 32-year-old loom cleaner from Scranton.
About 25 spectators, most of whom had just lost to the white-haired, dignified grandmaster, watched intently as the two men played out their final moves in the hallway in front of Bergman's Department Store.
Nine-year-old Chris Katorkas of Scranton rested his freckled face on the round table and watched the game from close range.
The red-headed boy pushed a scorecard toward Bisguier, five-time winner of the U.S. Open Chess Tournament, and asked for an autograph.
While Androski concentrated on his next move. Bisguier scrawled his good wishes for the boy's chess-playing future.
A few moves with a pawn and a knight later, and Bisguier had beaten his move promising challenger.
“Good game,” he told Androski as the simultaneous exhibition sponsored by the Wilkes-Barre Chess Club drew to a close and about 25 bystanders broke into applause.
“It taught me a lot,” Androski said of his game. “Maybe I could've played the ending a little better.
“I'm not used to playing in front of people,” Androski explained with a tug at his Detroit Lions caps. “But once you start playing, you wipe everything out of your mind.”
The local chess club, which meets Thursdays 6 to 9 p.m. at the Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre, planned the event to attract new members.
Club member Joseph Malloy, 71, of the East End section of Wilkes-Barre, happily reported that roughly 20 newcomers were among the 33 players who paid $5 to play a game with Bisguier.
Bisguier said he enjoys simultaneous exhibitions because “they bring good players out of the woodwork.”
After sparring with Bisguier, several good players reflected on their performances.
“He (Bisguier) said it was a real wild game. I had him going,” said Tony Renna, 50, of Taylor, who lasted 30 moves. “My ears were turning red.”
“It was even after 32 moves,” reported Howard Meiser Jr., a 37-year-old cook from Weatherly. “I had him in trouble a few times (but) I didn't have any possibility of beating him.”
“It's almost like having to play speed chess,” 32-year-old Neal Munchak of Scranton. “You have little time for analysis.”
As he struggled against Bisguier, 58-year-old Jesse Lladoc of Stroudsburg became philosophical about the game.
“When you play chess, you're in a different world. It takes you out of the regular grind of life. This is a game that should be taught to the young.”
Many of the participants in Saturday's exhibition said they had learned the game when they were about 4 years old.
That was the age when Bisguier exchanged checkers for chess and never went back. It's also about the age 7-year-old Kourtney Koslosky of Shavertown learned the game from her father, Ron.
“I wanted her to have the strategy and mental discipline. I think it's a great mental exercise,” said her father.
“Instead of sitting in front of the TV, we'd rather have her sit in front of the chess table,” said Kourtney's mother, Rhonda.
Kourtney, apparently the youngest player to challenge Bisguier Saturday, lasted 12 moves.
Nine-year-old Chris Katorkas of Scranton lasted 35 moves and proudly announced he had captured the grandmaster's two bishops, one knight and a pawn.
He also lost two bishops, one knight, three pawns and a rook.
“I wanted to have a chance to try to beat him, to try to track him down.” Chris said.
Actually, Bisguier said, he often loses a game at an exhibition. He said he was surprised that he didn't lose at all Saturday.
“The girl had a real chance,” he said, referring to 15-year-old Karen Bryta of Montdale, who played the grandmaster alongside her 16-year-old brother, Mark.
“It gets you so tired, and you wouldn't think it would,” she said with a sigh as she conceded defeat. Soon after, her brother laid his king on its side to indicate he, too, had lost. “You did well.” Bisguier told him.
The Brytas, who play each other and also travel to out-of-town tournaments, ended the afternoon with some good-natured sibling rivalry.
They agreed that one of them wins 61 percent of the games they play against each other, but they couldn't agree who it was.
“I'm in the lead,” said Mark.
“No, I'm in the lead,” said Karen.
“Actually, I'm better than she is,” Mark insisted.
“He's such a liar,” insisted his sister.
