Octopus to host chess tourney

One cup of regular coffee—no milk, no sugar, please.  And a glass with a wee bit of water.

The Octopus sits at a two-person table in Starbucks Café with a coffee mug and a rather large glass of water in front of him. Surrounded by the smell of coffee and fresh lunch foods, he chews his daily banana. 

Missoula’s Octopus doesn’t jive with the traditional image of a dark, terrible creature slithering across the ocean floor on eight tentacles. 

The Octopus is a 60-year-old expert chess player with a slow, pensive manner of speaking.

Greg Nowak, a Missoula resident since 1991, is fabled to be the best chess player in the city. When he was a junior in high school, he played to a draw with chess prodigy, Bobby Fisher.

The Milwaukee, Wisc. native says he got the name the Octopus years ago because his chess-playing technique gives the impression that eight tentacles are encompassing the board to strangle his opponent. It’s also because he can play multiple games at once.

Nowak, who was a chess master for 15 years, now teaches his moves to others. In addition to giving $9 lessons for two hours of private instruction, he sets up tournaments at coffee shops around town. 

Those looking to take on the Octopus can find him this weekend. The Montana Game “30” Chess Championship will be held Saturday, April 12, at the Broadway Inn.

To enter, register with Greg Nowak Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 at Starbucks Café or at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at the hotel. Early registration is $15, and at the door it’s $20. Children play for $5 less. Entries are limited to 24, and players are required to bring their own chess equipment. Prizes go to the top six chess players.