Chess club hosts tension-filled match between local champ, Ukrainian master

It all started with a simple phone call from a Central Lake Norman Golden Boys Club member to a chess club that meets regularly at the NY Bagel Co. in Mooresville.

Tom Watchorn told the club that his 74-year-old father-in-law, a former colonel in the Soviet Army, was visiting from the Ukraine.

“He doesn't speak English, but he likes to play chess,” he said. “Would you guys like to invite him to play a few games with you?”

A few days later club members met Anton Mikhalsky, who quickly – and almost effortlessly -- defeated all of the club's best players.

“The club leaders then knew they had an ‘international match and challenge’ in the making,” said Watchorn.

So a match was set up between Mikhalsky and one of Mooresvill's top chess players, Ken Baxter, for last Wednesday at the bagel eatery.

"Anton, is a quiet and modest gentlemen, and he is unaware of all the excitement and attention he has brought to this local chess club,” said Watchorn.

Although there was a language barrier between the two, Mikhalsky’s daughter, Oleysa Watchorn, translated for her father as the two men made their introductions and agreed on the ground rules for the match.

They decided to play two matches of 20 minutes apiece. Baxter said typical matches could last anywhere from one to two hours or even speed chess which can last five minutes. Under the 20-minute rule, a game can be won either by getting check mate on the board or time running out for the other player.

Before the contest began, Baxter noted that the men’s skill levels were comparable, saying that both were rated in the first category of talent by the World Chess Federation.

As his daughter translated, Mikhalsky explained that he began playing chess at 13 while in school. Typically in Russia, children who start to play chess begin at the age of five and will have a person to train them, he said. Since he began at a later age, Mikhalsky read a lot of books about chess and trained himself.

However, chess was not his main focus growing up. Mikhalsky actually played  volleyball professionally. Only upon retiring was he able to focus his time more on the game of chess.

Baxter attended his first chess tournament in 1974. He was also recently inducted into the North Carolina Chess Association Hall of Fame and is a U.S. Chess Federation Candidate Master.

"I have around 1,000 games under my belt,” he said. “I enjoy it so much, that I also teach it to kids and hope they will embrace it they way I do.”

Baxter is not a member of the chess club that meets at NY Bagel Co. but occasionally comes to play with the group.

As Wednesday’s game began, club members gathered around, watching as the two heavyweight players pondered their first moves.

With time slowly running down -- and nine minutes left on the board for Mikhalsky and seven minutes left for Baxter -- only a pawn had been captured by each player. Their concentration seemed to bring the match to a standstill.

At one point Mikhalsky was in the lead with seven minutes left on the clock and Baxter’s time down to three minutes. But that all changed as the pace quickened and more pieces were removed from the board.

With two minutes left and tension thick, it was impossible to tell who would win before the clock ran out. But time eventually expired for Mikhalsky, who had become trapped trying to protect one of his pawns.

That gave Round 1 to Baxter.

 “This was very appropriate for two Category 1 players,” said Baxter. “I really enjoyed this game. He’s a very good player and it’s always fun to find someone in the top five percent in the world. You don’t always come across competition like that.”

Oleysa translated again for her father on his thoughts of the game.

“I really enjoyed the game,” said Mikhalsky. “There was a moment and one point where I thought I had the advantage but I was in a dangerous position holding the pawn on the other side. I had a plan but I was one move behind to achieve it.”

Baxter and Mikhalsky then turned their attention to their second match, which was equally close. But Baxter prevailed again.

“The two players certainly seemed to enjoy themselves and look forward to playing again sometime soon before Anton leaves for home in late January,” said Watchorn. “I believe the chess club members saw a level of competition chess they had not witnessed before in Mooresville.”

Watchorn said both players have agreed to set a dinner date to get to know each other better and, of course, have a re-match.