June, 1996
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Connecticut's First Knight! Sophomore Robert 
Lopez Checkmates State Rivals
By Melissa Desautels
Central's Robert Lopez won the Connecticut State Chess Championship, earning the distinction as the number one high school chess player in the state.
"It was the culmination of all my goals as a chess player. It made me feel like I really was the best," said the sophomore. In August, Lopez moves on to represent Connecticut in the National Scholastic Chess Championship.
Over 100 students from Connecticut and New York state gathered at Greenwich Country Day School in March to compete in the championship tournament.
"I think he's a really good player. He's worked hard to get where he is. He has great desire to win and often overwhelms his opponents with his varied styles. He's a good friend and helps us out anyway he can," said Chess teammate Alex Pagan.
"Besides knowing how to play well, he has a clear mind, and great power of concentration," said Chess club advisor James McMath.
Robert first took a liking to chess at age seven when he would play against his father. His father could beat him 100 times in a row but he would never give up. He practiced and began to get involved in chess competitions. He noticed his practicing paying off when he began to beat his father routinely.
"To me every game is like a painting and I'm the artist. I can always make a new painting and when I come out with the best it feels really good," said Robert. "I like to keep the board as tough as possible at all times because I enjoy a challenge."
