Air Force competes at NATO chess tourney Published Oct. 22, 2010 By Erin Tindell Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs SAN ANTONIO -- Three members of the Air Force chess team are showcasing their skills at the 21st annual NATO Chess Championship held in Koege, Denmark, this week. Master Sgts. Robert Bucholtz of Peterson AFB, Colo., and Dan Ranario of Pope AFB, S.C., along with Tech. Sgt. Robert Keough of European Command, were selected to join the top chess players from other military services to compete on the U.S. team. Sergeants Bucholtz and Ranario were the top two Air Force scorers during the annual Inter-Service Chess Championship held at Great Lakes Naval Base, Ill., Aug. 2-6. The Air Force won the championship and has captured first place in the chess competition between U.S. military services every year since 2002. The tournament was a Swiss-Style competition, which paired teams together to face each other for seven rounds. Sergeant Ranario was the high points winner, scoring 6.5 out of a possible 7 points. Sergeant Bucholtz scored 5 points, making him the second highest scorer on the Air Force team. Other members of the 2010 chess team included Lt. Col. Douglas Taffinder of Offutt AFB, Neb., and Master Sgts. Darrin Lunderman of Buckley AFB, Colo., and Brian Smith of Brooks City Base, Texas. The Air Force team was selected from the top six winners of the 2010 Air Force Chess Tournament held May 9-14 at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. For more information about the Air Force Chess team, visit www.afcommunityprograms.com.