There’s a curse due to arrive at Oak Hall this month, and it’s no tall tale told by upperclassmen.  

Every five years, the Eagles’ best laid plans fail as knights and bishops falter at the U.S. Chess Federation National K-12 Grade Championships. The Oak Hall teams will head to the championships this weekend, happening in Maryland on Dec. 6-8. 

Last year, the chess teams brought home three national titles from the six categories they entered. The Eagles’ success has earned the school 25 national titles over the past 27 years—along with 35 state titles and a slew of individual trophies.  

But Coach Tim Tusing said the teams have failed to net a title every fifth year, 2009, 2014 and 2019. His students have been well versed in the need to break the five-year curse, and Tusing said—knock on wood—that the 2024 teams will turn the curse into an unfortunate statistic of the past. 

“I’m so confident in them, but I also don’t want to jinx it in any way,” Tusing said.  

He said Oak Halls’ kindergarten and first grade teams are the aces up the sleeve, with a near certain victory.  

The first grade team won the kindergarten section last year, and two kindergarteners this year played last year as junior kindergarteners. Tusing said they played well despite being younger. Now as fully fledged kindergarteners, Tusing said he doesn’t know how a team will mount a winning challenge against them.  

But when dealing with elementary players, patience is key, and internal challenges can overshadow an opponents’ chess prowess.  

“They see a balloon. They want it. You say, ‘no.’ They have a meltdown for the rest of the day,” Tusing said, outlining an actual occurrence. “And that’s what you have to deal with.” 

He said any of the students might have that bad day emotionally that takes their head out of the game. He said that’s why the chess teams also need depth.  

For the team championships, the top three players’ scores get tallied to create the team score. Tusing said he doesn’t always know who will thrive at a tournament and fill that crucial third board. It could be any one of a team of four or five players.  

Oak Hall will send 43 students, six teams for kindergarten through fifth grade, to this year’s championship in Maryland. It’s the largest contingent from any Florida elementary, middle or high school—more than triple the number of players as any other team. Coconut Grove Elementary will send the second largest elementary squad with five members.  

“I always say you have to have depth,” Tusing said. “Without the depth, you can’t win.”   

Since the start of the fall semester, the national championship has been the aim. Tusing, fellow coaches and students train after school to be as ready as possible and have the depth they need.  

In June, Tusing was named the winner of the 2024 Dan Heisman Award for Excellence in Chess Instruction. 

The training involves the classic chess puzzles and matches against peers. It also involves lessons beyond just game tactics.  

Tusing teaches the kids to use a clock, take notation and make sure their opponents follow tournament guidelines. If an opponent stretches out a hand and says good game, students are taught to cross their arms and analyze the game. Is it actually a checkmate?  

A list of questions on the white board reminds students what to consider during a game: why did my opponent move there, do I or my opponent have checkmate, do I or my opponent have any good checks, can I or my opponent win a queen, can I or my opponent win material, what are the tactics and after my move, where will my opponent move?  

Tusing said losing in chess hurts like a punch to the face, but he tells kids to stay strong and not cry in the tournament hall. Come back to the team room, and he’ll cry with you. As one of the most dominant teams, Tusing said they want to project strength, playing a mental game before the first move is played.  

He said the team’s got a target on its back, but the Eagles have the talent to break the curse.  

“When you’re the champion, everybody wants to beat you,” Tusing said. “Nobody shows up and goes, ‘where’s the worst kid in here? I want to beat him.’”