Chess Notes from the South Hills Chess Championship with Greg Nowak

On a drizzly Tuesday evening at Bernice's Bakery, and intriguing question was posed to Missoula's infamous Octopus.
 
The question was, "Is there such a thing as luck in chess?"

Greg Nowak (right) plays chess at Bernice's Bakery.

Greg Nowak is called the Octopus for his ability to play multiple opponents at once, and beating them anyway. He is a bit of an urban legend here in Missoula, Montana, and for good reason. At the 2012  First Night Missoula event, Greg won 99 games out of 100 in one night.

In reply to the question about luck in chess, Greg (The Octopus) paused, and then repiled "Yes- a little bit."

"Good!" said Dale, a tall, bald man as he sprang up from his chess board. "There must be luck in chess, otherwise I'd have no chance!"

Chuckles emerged from the group of concentrating, serious men, whose furrowed brows now loosened somewhat. Chuckles are commonplace here at Chess Tuesday's with the Octopus, and even if you don't play, sometimes it pays to just be a fly on the wall.

"I believe in miracles, but then there are things that are just coincidences too," the Octopus mused, and in another fit of wisdom he murmured, "Even a pawn could be a queen someday."

The South Hills Chess Championship finishes 1/22/13 where this year's champion will be chosen.

Keep your eyes glued to this blog for news on upcoming Missoula chess matches for opportunities to win money and grow along with some of Montana's finest chess players.