Photo by Deb Gau Woman Grandmaster Camilla Baginskaite made her move in a chess game against Tyler Sprik (at far right), during an exhibition at the Marshall-Lyon County Library on Wednesday. Baginskaite and area youth played six chess games at the same time.

MARSHALL — It was a unique opportunity for six young chess players from the Marshall area.

On Wednesday, they each got a chance to play against a grandmaster, and learn more about chess strategies.

Camilla Baginskaite worked her way down a row of chessboards set up on a conference table at the Marshall-Lyon County Library, playing six simultaneous games with area youth.

The room was hushed, as players thought about their moves.

“I was nervous,” Kamoren Bomgaars said of playing in the chess exhibition. But it was a good experience, he said.

“I thought it was really good,” Caden Hess agreed.

Baginskaite said getting to talk and play with younger chess players was fun for her, too.

“It’s interesting every time, and I get something new from it,” she said. “I like to explain things that are complicated,” in a way that makes them more simple, she said.

Baginskaite was born in Lithuania, and has lived both there and in the U.S.

“Camilla has been playing in top tournaments around the world most of her life,” said Mark Derby of the Southwest Minnesota Chess Club. Baginskaite won the U.S. Women’s Chess Championship in 2000, Derby said.

Baginskaite’s visit to the MLCL, and the simultaneous chess exhibition, was sponsored by the Southwest Minnesota Chess Club. Derby and Baginskaite said they became friends when they were both living in South Dakota.

It worked out for Camilla to stop in Marshall Wednesday, while she was on a visit to family in South Dakota and Minnesota, Derby said.

“We had an opportunity to have her come and meet you guys,” Derby told the group gathered at the library.

The players at Wednesday’s talk and exhibition said they learned to play chess at the Marshall Area YMCA, and when they were students at West Side Elementary.

Baginskaite started out by discussing different chess problems and strategies, using the large chessboard in the library courtyard. In her talk, she put less emphasis on memorizing chess openings and moves. It was important to be able to analyze the game, she said. She also encouraged the young chess players to study and work on building their skills on their own, and not only with a coach or a team.

“You take responsibility of your own chess education,” Baginskaite said.

The group later moved indoors for a simultaneous chess exhibition with Baginskaite. The six chess games went on move by move, as Baginskaite went to each chessboard in turn.

“You have a great club,” she told Derby and the group.

Baginskaite said she enjoyed getting to talk with younger players.

“I just like it, and if I get a chance I will do it,” she said.

Derby said making connections with others was one of the fun things about playing chess.

“It’s a really good way to meet people, and make friends,” he said.

He said the Southwest Minnesota Chess Club meets weekly in Marshall. More information on meet-ups and locations is available online at the Southwest Minnesota Chess Facebook group, he said.