- October 31, 2024
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When it comes to the big chess games he’s played, Pascal Charbonneau says he can probably remember them, down to every move.
Those were some of the most challenging moments of his career.
Playing 15 simultaneous games at a Manasota Chess Center event on Oct. 5, on the other hand? Easy.
That wasn't surprising considering Charbonneau's status as a grandmaster, the highest rank in chess, which places the Sarasota resident among about 2,000 people worldwide.
During his career, Charbonneau won the two 2002 and 2004 Canadian Chess Championships and represented Canada in five Chess Olympiads.
Initially, Charbonneau, 41, never saw himself playing chess in a professional capacity.
“Of course, when you're a kid, you start dreaming about being world champion, being as good as you could be, which I did," he said.
However, after his first tournament in the first grade, he was hooked.
“I got the bug... and I never looked back,” he said. “I was really impressed by the large, quiet room with hundreds of kids, as a young kid, sort of overwhelming, but at the same time it motivated me.”
Representing Canada for about 10 years, Charbonneau beat the world junior champion Igor Miladinović in 2000, before winning against adult champion Viswanathan Anand in 2006.
He said despite the games themselves taking up relatively little time, the experience and practice demanded lots of focus.
“Chess is a little bit like you’re always walking on a precipice, and you're one mistake away from losing at any point," he said. "It's a very cruel game in that sense, and so I think maybe what I remember most is the excitement, the palpitations, knowing I'm about to win and trying not to mess it up. Those moments I think, are very memorable, and also kind of shape you, and I think have given me experience that I'm never going to be so stressed that I was in those moments in my life.”
His victory against Anand occurred just after his acceptance of his first job offer. Since leaving chess, Charbonneau has worked in finance, mostly for large companies, where he employs his analytical skills.
He's still searching for the right opportunity in Sarasota, where he moved to raise his family.
Charbonneau said chess, although still not an easy or high-paying career, is more feasible today than in the past, with more opportunities for peripheral activities like teaching and writing, as well as for streaming online on the platform Twitch.
On Oct. 5, he was able to find a teaching moment and share his experience.
The National Chess Week event by Manasota Chess Center, held at Fruitville Library on Oct. 5, welcomed Charbonneau for an exhibition of 15 simultaneous games, played against event attendees, his second such exhibition with the club.
Th event also hosted other events including casual games and tournaments, featuring lectures by national master Martyn Corden and "A World of Chess" author Rick Knowlton.
"I would say we're continuing to see more and more people nationwide become familiar with chess and and then realize what a great game it is," said Bob Bernstein of Manasota Chess Center. "I think there is always an opportunity to build awareness around chess, that it's not just a game for intellectuals, that it's a game for everyone."
Unsurprisingly, Charbonneau managed to win all of the games.
Nonetheless, kids and adults also said they were grateful for the learning experience throughout the event.
“It's not that difficult to make reasonably good moves very quickly,” Charbonneau said. “It does sometimes get physically draining because you're literally walking around. … It's honestly not the most difficult thing I've ever done.”
“It’s like he’s leading you into checkmate,” said Timmly Huang, 9.
Charbonneau said he was glad for the chance to participate in the community.
“I like to support the local chess community, and they wanted someone to do an exhibition, and it's National Chess day, and so I'm just happy to oblige," he said.
