Tommy's mother and Herman's wife, Melanie, has died and left them a house in a small lakeside town, North Hatley, that they did not know she owned.
He befriends a basketball prodigy, Julius, whose secret passion is surfing, as well as Trevor and Darryl, two charming and ambitious guys who call themselves the Syndicate.
He also meets and ends up going out with Hyacinthe Marquez, the beautiful and witty cheerleader who does cartwheels as effortlessly as she quotes Oscar Wilde.
Shaun, still suspicious from his victory, invites Tommy to an underground high-stakes chess club, which is rife with shady characters, hot babes, and money.
Shaun, hoping to prove his suspicions of Tommy's monumental talent, volunteers him to play a blitz game against the top player in the club.
When it is announced that the Russian Junior Chess Team is coming to play Hatley High, the whole town is thrown into a frenzy for an opportunity for redemption.
When Shaun does not escape from his bonds in time to play the remaining match, the coach is forced to substitute Tommy in his place.