Seven-Year-Old "Chess Master" Shows Seniors A Few Good Moves

Above: Young Luke takes the first pawn; Upper right: The seniors enjoy sharpening their wits as they meet every day. Lower right: Sunrise Director of Operations Alan Saperstein (Luke's grandfather) proudly poses with the tournament winner. Photos by Charles Rogers The Sunrise Adult Day Health Care Center at Avenue J and East 96th Street recently hosted a local intergenerational chess tournament. This year, the chess contest had a special guest — seven-year-old Luke Hermann, a student at Columbia Grammar School in Manhattan, who stepped right up to the task and gave the senior citizens a run for their money.

Sunrise has had a chess club since 1997 and is open to all registrants who are interested in chess. The club meets every day and, according to officials, has been shown to sharpen the seniors' critical thinking and decision-making skills. Luke's fellow players praised the youngster for his skills and he was presented with a Certificate of Merit and a small trophy marked "Winner." It's easy to see, the youngster will always be a winner!