Grandmaster Alejandro Ramirez says chess is demanding in ways most people don’t imagine.

Cristian Chirila and Temoc

Cristian Chirila and Temoc

Call it UT Dallas’ brand of March Madness.

The University’s cheerleaders teamed up with the pep band and mascot Temoc to send the University’s Chess Team off to the Final Four of chess in grand style Tuesday in the Student Union.

Fans cheered the team, who appeared in their signature black blazers.

UT Dallas President David E. Daniel made a special appearance to wish the six players well.

“It’s amazing to me how many people comment about our chess team [wherever I go in Dallas],” he said. “I wish you all the best. Good luck in the national competition.”

The University’s Chess Team will face off against Texas Tech, UT Brownsville and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), April 1-3 at Booz Allen Hamilton headquarters in Washington, D.C. The team has made appearances at every Final Four since the event’s inception in 2001, winning or tying for first place five times.

Salvijus Bercys

Salvijus Bercys

The team won its berth in December 2010 when it had its best finish ever at the Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship, winning with a perfect 6-0 score. Earlier this month, the team took on a group of six higher-rated Grandmasters in the first UT Dallas Grandmaster Invitational Underwritten by Turner Construction Company.

“We’ve been working hard,” Chess Program Director Jim Stallings said. “With Julio Sadorra’s qualification for Grandmaster status during our recent invitational, and Coach Rade prepping players individually, we’re ready to face the stiff competition we know Texas Tech, UMBC and UT Brownsville will bring to this year’s Final Four.”

Games will be available at monroi.com. Sign up for a free account to view matches.

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