Achievers

By KELLY PREW
Staff Editor

Jarod Pamatmat, of Tyler, is world traveler and a world champion.

In his second year of world competition, the 11-year-old All Saints student brought home the bronze medal in October as part of Team USA in the 2008 World Youth Chess Championship held in Vietnam.

Jarod competes through the U.S. Chess Federation and travels the country and the globe honing his game skills in tournaments.

"I learned to play at 4," the smiling pre-teen said from his family's home office, surrounded by trophies from previous competitions. "I actually started playing at 5, though. It takes time to learn. You have to be very patient."

Competing in a pool of about 100 competitors, Jarod played 11 rounds in the 12 year old and younger group. His longest match this year ran six hours against a player from India.

To qualify, Jarod had to first compete in state and national championships. Taking first place in the national tournament vaulted him to the world games for the second year in a row.

Jarod said no matter where the games are played (last year in Turkey) the mind set is the same. His travels to Greece, Argentina and nearly every state in the continental United States has connected him to likeminded chess players he keeps in touch with throughout the year.

"My favorite part of competition is meeting new people," he said. "We actually get to see each other a lot."

Team USA is made up of chess players from Virginia, California and Arizona, among others.

The difficult relationships come up during world events.

"The language is usually a big problem," he laughs. "But, actually, most of the people I play against speak English."

Jarod is the oldest son of Drs. Marinel (Munda) and Stephen Pamatmat, who are willing to do just about anything to foster his love of the game, including driving to and from Dallas nearly every weekend for practice and competition.

Their two younger children also participate, 4-year-old Jacqueline is ready to begin learning the basics, while 10-year-old Jordan already is ranked in the Top 20 nationally in his age group.

"My husband is a chess player," his mother said. "He actually used chess to go through medical school. This really is his dream coming alive through this."

Jarod has given some thought to his future in the chess world, and said he would consider seeking a scholarship to play the game.

"You don't ever know what will happen," his mother said.

It is not as though chess is Jarod's only extra curricular activity.

He plays tennis, basketball, swims and is a violinist.

But for now, chess is taking him a long way. In two weeks, he will compete for the state title, and in December, will travel to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., for his second national competition. Next year, Jarod hopes to compete in the world games for the third time, and has a real shot at being ranked No. 1.

All the excitement surrounding his success has not gone to his head, though. Jarod knows he has to truly be on his game to play it well.

"I guess the thing I would tell other people is that, mainly, you have to learn to accept defeat," he said with a shrug and bashful smile. "I'm always learning and getting better."

MASTER OF MOVES: Jordan Pamatmat 11 of Tyler, helped Team USA bring home a bronze medal victory in the 2008 World Youth Chess Championship held in Vietnam last October.
(Staff Photo By Tom Turner)