The Free Sheet

The kings of chess

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Retrievers may have been kicked out of the NCAA’s “Big Dance” early, but they’ve made it all the way to the Final Four in chess, a feat that’s become old hat to them.

The seven-time Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess champion hosts main rival University of Texas, Dallas; New York University; and Miami-Dade College for the 2008 President’s Cup. Teams compete in round-robin format to win bragging rights as the nation’s college-chess champion.

First and second rounds run 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. The third round runs 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. The event takes place in UMBC’s Game Room, on the second floor of the Commons, 1000 Hilltop Circle. Call 410-455-1000 or go to sta.umbc.edu/orgs/chess.

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