The University of Arkansas at Monticello Chess Club hosted the 2006 Chess Championship in Room 316 of the Babin Business Center Nov. 29. Eric Williamson, a junior business major, took the title from former champion Andre Dobbs, a psychology major. 

   Other honored players included Chad Newton with the highest score for a novice player, and Carl Ruggerio with the highest score of anyone under 18-years old. The four-round Swiss System tournament featured ten competitors, which Guy Nelson, an instructor of mathematics, said was a small but strong field of players. 

   “After doing without a chess champion in 2005, the UAM chess playing community can thank Dr. Robert Graber for organizing the 2006 championship,” Nelson said. “Dr. Graber has been actively recruiting chess players from public schools around Southeast Arkansas and is already organizing the tournament for 2007.” 

   Graber, a professor of business, said he had been attempting to attract chess players from local high schools, but without much success so far. He has, however, actively sought out chess players, including beginners, in the UAM community. 

   “It is my hope to intensify the effort to attract high school chess players to UAM in 2007 and beyond, and to include more young people in future tournaments,” Graber said. 

   He said he knew Nelson would help him in that endeavor.