Pope chess champion goes international

Published July 22, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Mindy Bloem
43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- As a boy growing up in the Philippines, Master Sgt. Dan Ranario, 3rd Aerial Port Squadron, had his first encounter with the game of chess when his father, an avid chess player, sat him down and taught him the rules of the game.

Now, years later, that initial training will prove valuable as Sergeant Ranario, along with five others, takes his place on the U.S. chess team - a spot given to the top finishers from each service.

The U.S. chess team will travel to Brussels, Belgium to compete in the 19th North Atlantic Treaty Organization Chess Championship scheduled Aug. 4 through 8.
Sergeant Ranario is the only Pope member to earn a spot on the team this year, a distinction he has earned five times before. He has also made the Air Force chess team six times previously.

He is careful to credit this accomplishment in part to Col. (Dr.) Samuel Echaure, his friend and former "sparring" partner.

"I started playing chess when I was 10 years old, and again in 2002 when I was re-introduced to the game by Colonel Echaure," he said. "He really encouraged me to get involved in the military tournaments and playing with him made me better."

Sergeant Ranario has been honing his chess skills for the past seven years and is ready to face the competition.

"I feel very special and privileged to make the cut; not everybody gets to represent the U.S. chess team," he said. "I like the challenge; I consider it a sport."

Sergeant Ranario said he is preparing for the international competition by practicing at home, playing online games and reading chess books.

In order to gain a spot on the team, Sergeant Ranario competed at the base level, the Air Mobility Command level, the Air Force level and finally at the interservice level where he competed against the top six players representing the U.S. Navy, Army and Marines. In total, the Air Force was given three slots out of the six available. That is quite an accomplishment considering how the slots are given out. Four of the spots are given to the top four players of different service branches (Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines) with an extra two slots available to the top finishers from any branch.

Tech. Sgt. Robert Keough, Sergeant Ranario's friend and sometimes competitor, remarked on Sergeant Ranario, the chess player.

"I met him at my first Air Force Chess Championship in San Antonio, Texas, and my first impression was that he was a very skilled player," he said. "It is truly outstanding Sergeant Ranario made the team. He is a true sportsman and one of the best chess competitors of our time.

"Not only is he an exceptional chess player, but he is also a great sport. He is always helping the weaker players learn more about the game. After he beats his opponent, he goes over the game and shows his opponent where he could have played better."
As for Sergeant Ranario, he is just appreciative of all the support he has received along the way.

"I am thankful my squadron gave me the time off to play in the tournament," he said. "With all we have to do and with deployments nowadays, it's hard to get away sometimes, but they have really worked with me. I would have never gotten as far as I have without support from people like Jennifer Pearson who runs the Pope tournaments at the Community Activities Center and my wife, of course."

Sergeant Ranario has been competing in military chess tournaments since 2002 and is grateful for the opportunity to once again represent his country.

"I feel proud to represent the United States," he said. "There is a U.S. flag set up by us and we wear U.S. chess team uniforms when we play. I feel a little like an ambassador for my country."

Chess champion goes international