UTB-TSC's Bachmann glad for second chance at chess, college

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – Axel Bachmann definitely believes in second chances.

Bachmann, 20, a sophomore biology major at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, is halfway through his second year of study and is a member for the second time on the campus chess team.

The chess Grandmaster from Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, is also participating for the second time in the 2009 Pan-Am Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship which started Sunday and ends Wednesday, at the Sheraton South Padre Island Beach Hotel and Condominiums.

"It’s kind of pressure for us," Bachmann said. "We are top seeded in the tournament. It’s the most important tournament."

Sunday’s first round of the tournament, which features more than 20 collegiate teams from North America and the Caribbean, was the first time Bachmann played a competitive chess match in five months.

"I was feeling really good coming back to chess," he said.

Bachmann left UTB-TSC in May 2008 to play chess professionally. He spent most of his time playing in tournaments in Croatia, France, Germany, Italy and Romania.

"At first, I got really good results in Europe," Bachmann said. "We were really happy in my family."

He received an e-mail earlier this year from Rusty Harwood, UTB-TSC’s chess program director, about possibly returning to the team.

"He has a positive attitude," Harwood said. "He’s a hard worker. He’s a consummate teammate. He adds to the chemistry of the team."

Bachmann said he considered going back to college in South America, but he thought back to his freshman year and the chess team at UTB-TSC. He was a freshman when he earned Grandmaster status.

"I had really good memories about Brownsville," he said. "My family also wanted me to choose Brownsville."

Bachmann enrolled in August for fall semester.

Chess team member Nadya Ortiz, 23, a senior computer science major from Ibague, Colombia, said studying and playing the game professionally can be a challenge because some tournaments can last at least a week. And, Ortiz said students are responsible for any missed class days.

"The thing I admire with UTB-TSC is they gave him a second chance," Ortiz said. "They believe in him. They help him. Now, he is really doing his best effort with both school and chess."

Bachmann first started playing chess when he was 5 years old after watching his older brothers, Rene and Ralf, play with their father, Erwin.

Bachmann remembers the first international chess tournament he played in Brazil when he was 7.

"I went because my brothers played that tournament," he said. "I placed last because I didn’t score any points."

Bachmann went on to be named Paraguay’s 2007 Sportsman of the Year.

Tournament rounds continue at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., today and 9 a.m., Wednesday. The awards ceremony will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday.

The top four American collegiate chess teams will be announced at the final reception. These teams will compete in The President’s Cup competition, also known as the Final Four of Chess, to be held April 9 to April 11 at UTB-TSC.

"It’s our main mission, since we have a really strong team," Bachmann said about getting in the Final Four.

The results from each round will be posted at www.utb.edu/sa/chess/Pages/default.aspx.