At UMBC, chess is king

With queens and bishops, they rule the Final Four

For the college's pep band members, who played during the opening round of the nationally televised basketball tournament in Raleigh, N.C., two weeks ago, the week's festivities scarcely seemed anti-climatic.

"I think we got people's attention and directed it before the chess team because this is the chess Final Four," said sophomore trumpeter Andrew Cleveland of Greensboro, N.C.

Rohonyan doesn't particularly care for the "The Kiev Killer" moniker. "Chess players are peaceful," she said. But she said she enjoys being on a campus where chess is popular.

A teaching assistant recently saw Rohonyan's photo accompanying an article about the chess team in the school newspaper and announced it to her class. The unassuming computer science major, who scarcely mentions the club to classmates, became a celebrity.

"Oh my God!" one said. "You play for the chess team?"

[e-mail]

President's Cup

When:

Today (beginning at 10 a.m.) and tomorrow (beginning at 9 a.m.)

Where: at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Commons Game Room, 2nd floor.

Admission:

Free.

Information:

www.umbc.edu/chess.