The Universidad Galileo Chess Club recently held a themed tournament that brought together students from various academic backgrounds for a day of chess, costumes, and teamwork. The event was organized by the university’s Innovation Laboratory and featured a special costume theme to give the tournament its own unique character.
Emily Curín, a member of the organizing committee, explained, “We decided to give the tournament a unique personality, make it thematic and allow participants to come in costume. We even brought accessories and outfits for those who wanted to join in on the atmosphere.”
The organization of the event involved significant collaboration among students. “It was a team effort. Everyone had their role: some were in charge of pairings, others handled medals, food or decorations. Everyone’s ideas were considered and put into action,” said Curín. She also highlighted how this experience strengthened community bonds within the club.
Students from programs such as Mechatronic Engineering and technical degrees participated in the event. Curín noted changes since previous tournaments: “In the first tournament there were kids who just watched. Today they are here playing with more confidence and enthusiasm. That makes me very happy.”
Among those who stood out was David López, a 10-year-old student enrolled in Universidad Galileo’s Technical Program in Astrobiology. He shared his perspective: “I don’t care about winning or losing; what matters is participating. I really like chess and I am happy to be here.” López also received recognition for best costume at the event.
Alejandro Cano, a final-year Mechatronic Engineering student, won first place in the competition. He said, “It was a very competitive tournament; everyone has improved a lot with the club. I had a lot of fun because of the Halloween theme and I am happy to have won.” Cano encouraged other young people to join: “Chess teaches logical reasoning and mathematics. It is a very nice sport that everyone should try.”
The tournament awarded prizes to its top three finishers while promoting camaraderie among participants. Organizers emphasized that events like these help reinforce strategy skills as well as social connections across generations.
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