Chess

Chess at Roxbury Latin is an independent, informal activity involving students from all classes. Any student may play any time he is free, as sets are always available.

For those interested in serious competition, a traveling team competes in the South Shore Interscholastic Chess League in a series of between eight and ten dual matches during the winter. For nine of the last ten years, teams have appeared in league playoffs, winning two outright championships and two co-championships.

In the fall, boys who wish to represent the School in interscholastic competition declare their intentions by submitting the score sheet of a game against a live opponent they have played and recorded. From these games a formal challenge ladder is arranged. Position on the ladder determines position on the team. Usually the top seven to ten students on the ladder play against other schools.

In 2007, internationally ranked chess master Jacob Rasin, an experienced teacher who has coached many of New England’s best young masters, Team USA members, World Championship and Pan American Championship participants, and national and state champions played a simultaneous blindfold exhibition against ten students as a way of improving his analytical powers—and for fun. In the summer, he ran a two-week chess session in which several Roxbury Latin boys participated.

A traveling team competes in the South Shore Interscholastic Chess League in a series of dual matches during the winter.