Anyone who knows anything about Chess'n Math's annual Canadian Chess Challenge (CCC) knows the name of Adam Dorrance. Adam has won the Nova Scotia Chess Challenge Championship for his grade 11 times from Grade 1 to Grade 11 (Adam is in Grade 12 now); and he has gone on to win the Canadian Chess Challenge Championship for his grade 8 times. Adam has also won the CCC's MVP award 3 times.
Adam Dorrance throughout the years at the Canadian Chess Challenge
Photo Credit: Stirling Dorrance
The collage photo above shows Adam Dorrance throughout the years at the Canadian Chess Challenge. The first photo portrays a young Adam (Grade 1) in 2005 playing in his first Canadian Chess Challenge (CCC). Now, fast forward to see Adam in more recent years in 2015 at his 11th CCC, winning the National Championship for his grade for an incredible 8th time.
One-on-One with National Master Adam Dorrance
Here’s my interview with NM Adam Dorrance:
How many times have you won the Nova Scotia Chess Challenge Championship for your grade?
Adam: I have won the Nova Scotia Chess Challenge for my grade eleven times (every year) from Grade 1 in 2005 to Grade 11 in 2015.
How many times have you won the Canadian Chess Challenge for your grade?
Adam: I have won the Canadian Chess Challenge for my grade eight times (and won second three times). I won in Grades 2 to 5, 7 to 9, and 11.
How many times have you won the CCC's MVP award? Please also explain what the MVP award is and how a player can win it.
Adam: I have won the CCC's MVP award three times, in Grades 7 ( where the CCC was held in Victoria, BC), in Grade 10 (where the CCC was held in Winnipeg, MB), and in Grade 11 (where the CCC was held in Quebec City, QB). The MVP award is given to the player that contributes the highest percentage of points to his/her team out of the whole competition.
What got Adam started playing chess and how did that tie into getting involved with Chess'n Math, and then CMA's Canadian Chess Challenge?
Gail and Stirling Dorrance (Adam’s Parents): Adam started playing chess (at the age of four) when he asked his Dad what the board game was on the top shelf in the basement. Adam's Dad taught him the game, and took him out to Nova Scotia-run scholastic tournaments when Adam was in Grade one. He won provincials in Grade one, and was able to represent Nova Scotia for Grade one, in Ottawa, at the 2005 Canadian Chess Challenge, run by the Chess'n Math Organization. He came second that year. We have been going back ever since, because it is a one of a kind tournament where you compete as an individual and as a team, and where you can make new friends from all over the country.
What do Adam and Adam's parents remember about Adam's first CCC?
Gail and Stirling Dorrance: How calm he was in the playoff where he won second place against the Ontario player.
What about the first time Adam's brother Lucas joined Team Nova Scotia? Was it more special and more exciting?
Gail and Stirling Dorrance: Exciting to have both boys on the same team -- especially when several years, we would play Ontario and Quebec and they would be the only Nova Scotia points.
Was it more special to have the CCC at home in Nova Scotia? It must have been a lot of work to organize.
Gail and Stirling Dorrance: Hard work but we had lots of good parents/volunteers involved to make sure it ran smooth. I have to mention Brian Raymer (he ran the CCC 2011 in Victoria, BC) who was extremely helpful in the early stages of organizing the CCC 2012 in Halifax. He gave me great advice and many helpful hints/tips on how to run a good CCC.
Why do you continue to compete in the CCC each year? Why do you feel this is important to support?
Adam: I continue to compete in the CCC each year because I think it is a great tournament and I always look forward to it. For many years, it has been the biggest tournament my family travels to, and it is usually our biggest trip for the year. I think it's important to support the CCC, so it can be around for many years, and so it can be an exciting trip for many other families all across the country.
Knowing what you know now, would you have invested all the time and your family's time into chess, as much as you have done over the years? Why, and why do you feel chess is that important?
Gail and Stirling Dorrance: Would not change a thing. It has been great for our family with respect to seeing Canada and great for our kids to compete at such a high level and meet many wonderful people.
What do you think chess has given you; what positive impact has it had in your life?
Adam: Chess has certainly allowed me to travel a lot more than I would have, if I had never started playing the game. I have travelled across the country and around the world. Chess has also let me meet new people and make new friends from all over Canada. I think chess also helps me in all of my various sports that I participate in. Knowing that I have competed at the top level successfully in something, allows me to be calmer during big time sporting events and have fewer nerves before matches/competitions.
What advice would you give to kids playing chess today and to their chess parents?
Adam: I think the best way to improve your chess is to play lots of chess online and to go to tournaments to get lots of practice. I've found it's important to balance physical activity (different sports) with the mental challenges of chess; but, most of all make sure you enjoy whatever you are doing!
What does the near future hold for Adam after Grade 12?
Adam: As of right now, I am still not exactly sure what I want to do. I know I want to go to University next year, and hopefully take something that involves math and science, but am not sure where and what yet.
Adam at the WYCC 2015
Adam played well in the recent U18 Open section of the World Youth & Cadets Chess Championship in Greece where he had a performance rating of 2393 and gaining almost 150 FIDE points!
In fact, one of his games was the CFC’s Game of the Week: http://chess.ca/newsfeed/node/704
Photo above: Adam at his board in Round 10 of the WYCC 2015.
Photo above: Adam at the Team Canada Awards and Celebration with the other U18 Open (Alex Sabaratnam - far right, Sam Song - missing) and U18 Girls players (Joanne Foote - centre), Head of Delegation – Victoria Jung-Doknjas; and Team Canada coaches: IM Aman Hambleton, IM Romeo Milu, GM Gergley Szabo, and Mike Ivanov.
The Dorrance Family
What a blessing it has been for me to have gotten to know Adam and his family over the years. We have met at major chess tournaments including multiple Canadian Chess Challenges, Canadian Youth Chess Championships, Canadian Opens, and most recently at the 2015 World Youth & Cadets Chess Championships in Greece, where Adam competed in the U18 Open section and I was Head of Delegation for Team Canada at WYCC 2015.
Stirling and Gail Dorrance, along with their two sons, Adam and Lucas, have contributed and volunteered countless amounts of their time and expertise to help scholastic chess in Nova Scotia flourish. Adam’s chess prowess and accomplishments are definitely something to be proud of; and, in combination with his sportsmanship and respect for other players, parents, and officials, and towards the game itself, this is what sets this young man apart.
Thank you to The Dorrance Family for supporting and being a part of the Chess'n Math Family for well over a decade now!
This blog entry was written by Victoria Jung-Doknjas. Your feedback is welcomed and encouraged.
Please email: CMAChessBlog@gmail.com with your comments.
Next week’s blog entry: “2015 World Youth & Cadets Chess Championships”