Reza Abtahian took first place at an intercollegiate chess tournament held on Nov. 22 at Cégep André-Laurendeau, where competitors from eight Montreal-area CEGEPs faced off. His fellow team members from the Dawson Chess Club also performed very well: Samuel Vaccaro tied for second place, Pagna Sam was 6th, Mikhail Panin was 11th, Alexey Solovyev was 14^th and Bassma Racine was 21^st.

“This is an exceptional achievement, especially as it marks the first time that a student from Dawson has won this tournament,” said Director General Diane Gauvin.

“This achievement means a lot to me and to our team,” Reza said. “Bringing the trophy home felt very special. As a student who loves chess and loves Dawson, it was amazing to see our college on top of the standings.”

Staying Calm Under Pressure

Reza recalls one game as a turning point. “I faced a very strong opponent from a well-known chess school. The position was very sharp, and I was under pressure, but I found a defensive resource and turned the game around in the endgame. After that, I felt that I could actually win the whole event,” said Reza, a student in the International Business Studies profile of Social Science.

When the results were announced, “there was a short moment of disbelief and then a huge feeling of relief and happiness,” he said. “I thought about all the games, all the mistakes I had made in practice and all the hours spent studying. I was proud that we had shown our college can compete with any other chess program in Montreal.”

Chess at Dawson

Reza describes the Dawson Chess Club as a friendly and supportive community of about 15 regular members who meet weekly to play and study the game. “A student who has never played chess can absolutely find a welcoming environment,” he said. “People are happy to explain the rules, go slowly, and help beginners improve.”

Lessons Beyond the Board

“Chess has trained my concentration—one careless move can change everything—and taught me resilience,” said Reza. “That attitude carries over into my studies and daily life.” He advises new players to treat their first tournament “as an experience, not a final exam.”

Reza credits his success to a strong network of family, friends, and teammates. “Practicing with my Dawson teammates made a big difference,” he said. “I’m also grateful to the staff and Campus Life at Dawson who support clubs and activities, and to my parents and friends who encouraged me.”

Looking ahead, he hopes his win will inspire others. “I hope this result inspires more Dawson students to try chess, join the club, or take part in competitions. Representing Dawson was an honour, and I’m excited to see how our chess community can grow.”