Mariel Sanchez smiled as she looked at her chessboard Sunday afternoon.

“I’m winning,” she whispered. “Well, almost.”

Mariel wasn’t playing against one of her classmates or a fellow member of the Marco Island Chess Enthusiasts. Instead the 9-year-old Tommie Barfield Elementary student was playing against an international chess master – and she wasn’t the only one.

Mariel was one of about 50 Islanders who spent their Sunday afternoon sitting in silence, hoping to get one move ahead of Blas Lugo, an international chess master. Lugo was in town to compete in the first Chess Master Exhibition, a game that allowed 50 people to play against the master at the same time.

Mindy Matusiak, recreation program supervisor at Mackle Park, said more than 60 people had registered for the event, but that organizers capped the competition off at 50.

About half of the competitors were children, said Mario Sanchez, organizer and founder of the Marco Island Chess Enthusiasts.

“I am so impressed,” Sanchez said. “It’s such an important learning experience and to see so many kids out here playing is (great).”

Devin O’Sullivan played for about an hour before he lost the game. The 11-year-old Tommie Barfield student said he hadn’t intended on playing chess Sunday, but when he saw an empty seat, he jumped at the chance.

“I was sitting on the sidelines and some friends convinced me to play,” he said. “It was hard. He knew all of the moves.”

Lugo is the director of Miami International Chess Academy, as well as the author of several books about chess. In 2003, Lugo received the Florida chess coach of the year award and has repeatedly placed first in several national and international chess tournaments.

Devin was among the first competitors out on Sunday, but he didn’t go home empty-handed. All of the children who participated in Sunday’s exhibition received a professional board with chess pieces and a carrying case.

Sanchez, who started Marco Island Chess Enthusiasts with his daughter, said learning how to play chess is vitally important for younger children.

“(Chess) is indispensable for children,” he said. “It teaches them patience, critical thinking and deep thought. It forces these children to focus.”

Taylor Lowdermilk, 9, sat outside while her 11-year-old brother, Alex, sat quietly in the chess room studying his board. Taylor, a Tommie Barfield student, was out about an hour before her brother.

“I am excited for my brother,” she said. “But I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Taylor said she’s been playing chess since she was 6 years old. She began playing after watching her father and brother play, she said.

Sunday’s event meant Taylor — and all of the other players — got a little extra help on their game, Sanchez said.

The game moved a little slower than usual, since Lugo gave children a second chance when they made a wrong move.

He also taught them quick lessons, and took the time to explain why they lost when he finally uttered “check.”

“It was sort of hard because whenever I did a move, he did a better one,” she said. “But I learned a little bit. The guy said to keep my pieces in the middle and to protect my king, and I didn’t do that, so I lost.”

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