by Katie Vasquez
Watching Mariangel Vargas play chess, you might be surprised to learn she has only been playing for a year.
“I feel, like, nervous,” Mariangel said. “And at the same time when you play, you’ll feel like, I mean, you’re very focused on the game.”
The 12-year-old grew up in Colombia, where she says chess isn’t common, but something her family was familiar with was gang violence.
“They [gang members] forced me to kneel and I refused. They threw me, hit me and took out their weapons and put them to my head,” said Vargas’ mother, Alexandra Gomez.
In October 2022, Mariangel’s parents decided the danger was too much, and made a brutal journey, traveling through the desert in Mexico to come to the U.S.
“The United States defends the rights of people and it was there that we decided to undertake this. It was a painful path, but here we are,” Gomez said.
As Mariangel was adjusting to her new life in New York, she saw a flyer at her school, P.S. 11, advertising Spanish chess lessons.
The charity in charge, The Gift of Chess, had noticed the influx of Spanish speaking migrants, and founder Russell Makofsky wanted to help.
“It’s like a curriculum in itself with incredible educational benefits. and then once you learn the game, you can begin to interact with your classmates that speak English because you’re sharing that language, that universal language of the game of chess,” Makofsky said.
Quickly, Makofsky noticed Mariangel becoming a master.
“She’s currently ranked in the top 50 of players, girls her age in the United States,” Makofsky said.
Mariangel says every move on this board is guided by God.
“I pray before the game because I think that can bring me a lot of luck,” Mariangel said.
And her favorite part?
“When I’m winning,” she said.
The game has helped Mariangel adjust and succeed in a new life.
Her father, Francisco Vargas, says she’s achieving the dream that they came here for.
“We’re proud of her, as parents, watching her grow little by little, because that is beautiful, for dad and mom, to see that their children are growing,” Francisco said.
Mariangel wants to take her skills to the top. She hopes to eventually become a grandmaster which is the highest title a person can receive in chess.
For more information on “The Gift of Chess” head to their website: thegiftofchess.org