Elena Shatrandzh
Three worlds: Earth, Rukkhaya, Bellas. Three teams of chess players, three eternal comparisons: Russia, West and East. Sophie, Keira, Mark, Artem and Alisa, a team of young winners, end up in Chaturangi, a world of chess full of mysteries, wonders and magic. The children stand to learn the secrets of other worlds, get acquainted with creatures originating from different parts of the Universe… Will they, just children, be able to take the varnish off, defeat evil thanks to friendship and protect their world? To do this, they must win the main match of the Grandmaster Tournament. On the other hand, would our Russian boys and girls refuse to play chess? A game that bestows clear consciousness, analytical thinking and the geometric art of moving chess pieces?!
Chapter 1.
Sophie’s team feeling bored
A year ago, Sophie’s team won all the competitions held in Russia and now it was in Cuzco, an ancient city in Peru, hosting the famous Secret Games tournament that gathered together children’s chess teams from all over the globe.
«Why are all tournaments held in the most remote corners of the planet? In the most boring cities, where there is absolutely nothing to do?», Keira, the second board and Sophie’s right hand, the most courageous and cheerful girl on the planet, said, whining as always. Certainly, it is difficult to stay put in one place for a long time if you have such a fiery competitive spirit. She was an attacker playing lightning-fast, attacking games, ready to give up all her pieces so that they didn’t prevent her from checkmating her opponent in a few brilliant moves. This, however, was also her weakness. Therefore, the team would not let her play against opponents who loved positional styles.
«Keira, such places are needed so that we cannot focus on anything but chess, plus, you must admit, there is a certain magic about small towns», the captain tried to reason with her.
«Sophie, only the high stone jungles of Singapore or New York have magic to them. It was there where really cool tournaments were held last month! Mark, tell her we need some adventure to recharge our batteries before the final round and make sure to get out and explore every dark secret corner of this ’magical’ town,» Keira finished sarcastically.
«Keira is still a nuisance, but now she is right», Mark a merry fellow, the soul of the company, always ready for adventure, said, agreeing with Keira. His playing style was attack. However, he didn’t attack as violently as Keira did. His style was more of an advance and retreat, kind of probing the opponent. Magnus Carlsen was his favorite chess player. Mark had a passion for difficult games and complex end plays that required the quick calculation of a lot of moves without a single mistake.
Virtually from her birth, Sophie could not do without a chessboard. Chess was an inseparable part of her life full of constant tournaments, different cities, all kinds of gatherings. She was 11 years old. She was just about to finish elementary school, but she was already a world chess champion among her age mates, just like her friends – a dream team – were champions of city-wide as well as Russian and world championships.
Sophie united all the guys by pure accident, since she always considered herself a loner. Playing in a team was a big responsibility and, most importantly, she never wanted to lose just because someone couldn’t keep up with her or let the team down by losing – the worst thing that could happen. The mood of each team member was important for everyone. They were like arms and legs of one organism. Sophie was the leader of her team, a real captain. She was strong in spirit, responsible, kind, fair. Her playing style was ’creative’. She liked to mix different styles, set brilliant traps. She liked to play for the sake of art and the beauty of the game and not just for the sake of winning. Sophie dreamt of becoming a doctor without giving up participating in major chess tournaments and, perhaps, she was already obsessed with the Hippocratic oath that invoked huge responsibility she felt for her team. So, when Mark agreed with Keira, there was no option but to find an adventure for everyone.
«I would quote Alice’s favorite Shakespeare now: «These violent delights have violent ends…”, the Captain started.
«Oh nooo, no more of Shakespeare, Sophie! Suffice it that Alice always quotes him!!
«I won’t», Sophie said, laughing. «Yesterday, after the game, I found in my room a handbill for an underground labyrinth that only the «most worthy’ can pass».
«And you didn’t say a word?», Keira even leaped up in anticipation.
«That’s what we need!», Mark agreed.
«Great, since you agree, get prepared in 15 minutes. Have Artem and Alice prepared as well. Keira, since it’s an underground labyrinth, a white dress will not be a good idea…»
