Texas Tech Chess falls in Final Four; coach heads to Hall of Fame

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Traditionally when you hear about the final four, you think of the NCAA Tournament.

But the Texas Tech Chess program reached a different kind of Final Four this weekend.

"We played on Saturday and Sunday, where we played 12 individual games and three matches," Texas Tech Chess head coach Alex Onischuck said. "Texas Tech finished third in this tournament."

Texas Tech Chess head coach Alex Onischuck is very proud of that. Alex is a Chess Grandmaster and is ranked the fourth best chess player in the United States.

"In 2006, I was the U.S. Champion and for a couple of years I was number one in the U.S.," Onischuck said. "The ranking system is pretty good, because they calculate all of the games that you play in. To get this number kind of shows where you are at the moment."

Two weeks from now, Alex will be enshrined into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame for his contributions as a coach, and as a player.

"I have played more than one hundred games on the national team," Onischuck said. "So yeah, I have had a pretty good record, and with all of that achievement, I will be inducted this year."

As he heads into the Hall, you would think Alex would know everything about the game.

But he says that's not the case.

"As I always say, you can still improve at any age," Onischuck said. "I am still improving as a player."

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