Playing against her dad pits Jasmine against someone ranked by the United States Chess Federation among the top 10 percent of the country's best players. Jasmine instantly recalls the single time she defeated Dad. His time ran out. She also participates in Hockaday's chess clubs, which give her the chance for a weekly workout with professional chess coach Noureddine Ziane. Hockaday, as do a significant number of local private and public schools, hires a master chess player to develop its young players.
Chess tournaments take place almost every weekend.
All that playing paid off when she won last year's Texas Grade Championships tournament in the first-grade division. She's also done her share of losing, something her dad does not lament. Her mother, Nina DiLucci, drives Jasmine to soccer games and practices, dance classes, gymnastics and monthly Brownie meetings. We don't know where her chess will go. But right now it's a fun activity for her.