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Fourteen members of the Petoskey District Library Chess Club competed in the Michigan Scholastic Club Championships on Nov. 23 in Lansing.
According to a community announcement, the tournament, held at the Lansing Center, attracted more than 510 players. It was the largest Michigan tournament Jeff Aldrich, president of the Michigan Chess Association and a tournament director for the U.S. Chess Federation, has managed.
The Petoskey club fielded three teams: one in the kindergarten through fifth-grade category, one in the K-8 category and one in the K-12 category. This was the fourth time since 2011 that teams from the library club participated in the state championship, but the first time more than one team was entered.
More: Petoskey hosts 13th annual youth chess tournament
The K-5 team placed 11th out of 13 teams, tying but losing narrowly on a tiebreak to the Ypsilanti District Library club. Notably, the Petoskey team was the only one with unrated players.
The K-8 team took eighth place out of 14 teams with a total of 12.5 points, edged out of the seventh-place trophy by Castle Quest, which earned 14 points. The K-12 team, which had two experienced players, finished 10th out of 13 teams with a score of 6.
Although tournament rules permitted up to 20 players per team, team scores were based on the top four players.
Individual awards included trophies and medals. Elijah Hammond, 13, received a trophy for scoring four points out of five and finishing 24th after tiebreaks in the largest field of 180 players. Daniel Masserant, 12, of Interlochen, scored 3.5 points and received a medal for 28th place.
Levi Hornibrook of Petoskey won his first, third and fourth games in the five-round tournament. Luther Hinkley won his first and third rounds, increasing his regular rating by more than 100 points from 372 to 483. Joseph Riley also scored two out of five, winning his second and fourth rounds and increasing his overall rating from 247 to 353. All K-8 players had at least one win.
The K-5 team included third grader Elizabeth Fichera, fourth grader Elaina Vicente and fifth graders Koa Vicente and Thomas Fichera. Both Ficheras scored two out of five points. Koa Vicente scored three out of five, placing 63rd out of 136 players. Elaina Vicente scored one out of five with a win in Round 3.
In the K-12 category, 11th grader Isaiah Rauhaus finished with a score of three out of five, placing 33rd out of 113 players. Ninth and 10th graders Tate Schoolcraft, Pablo Haan and Paco Haan each scored one out of five.
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Players met regularly to prepare, practicing Mondays during chess club hours and on four extra Saturdays for coaching sessions led by club mentors.
Mentors Robert Bemben and Robin Ray, founders of the club, traveled to Lansing with mentor Adam Masek to support the players, according to the announcement. They helped the players understand pairing sheets, interpret tournament rules and analyze games between rounds.
“I'm so proud of our young team of chess-players — from the standout performances of our most experienced, to the first points scored by the beginners that were brave enough to come with us — to compete at the biggest tournament for Michigan kids ever held!” Masek said in the announcement. “Everyone gave their best in a tough challenge, and I am very fortunate to be a coach for such a fine group of kids and parents. I am very thankful of our partnership with the Petoskey District Library for making our club possible and taking care to grow it over the years.”
This story was created by Janis Reeser, [email protected] with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey chess club competes in Michigan’s largest kids tournament
Continue reading...
According to a community announcement, the tournament, held at the Lansing Center, attracted more than 510 players. It was the largest Michigan tournament Jeff Aldrich, president of the Michigan Chess Association and a tournament director for the U.S. Chess Federation, has managed.
The Petoskey club fielded three teams: one in the kindergarten through fifth-grade category, one in the K-8 category and one in the K-12 category. This was the fourth time since 2011 that teams from the library club participated in the state championship, but the first time more than one team was entered.
More: Petoskey hosts 13th annual youth chess tournament
Few prior competitions among participants
The K-5 team placed 11th out of 13 teams, tying but losing narrowly on a tiebreak to the Ypsilanti District Library club. Notably, the Petoskey team was the only one with unrated players.
The K-8 team took eighth place out of 14 teams with a total of 12.5 points, edged out of the seventh-place trophy by Castle Quest, which earned 14 points. The K-12 team, which had two experienced players, finished 10th out of 13 teams with a score of 6.
Although tournament rules permitted up to 20 players per team, team scores were based on the top four players.
Individual awards included trophies and medals. Elijah Hammond, 13, received a trophy for scoring four points out of five and finishing 24th after tiebreaks in the largest field of 180 players. Daniel Masserant, 12, of Interlochen, scored 3.5 points and received a medal for 28th place.
Levi Hornibrook of Petoskey won his first, third and fourth games in the five-round tournament. Luther Hinkley won his first and third rounds, increasing his regular rating by more than 100 points from 372 to 483. Joseph Riley also scored two out of five, winning his second and fourth rounds and increasing his overall rating from 247 to 353. All K-8 players had at least one win.
The K-5 team included third grader Elizabeth Fichera, fourth grader Elaina Vicente and fifth graders Koa Vicente and Thomas Fichera. Both Ficheras scored two out of five points. Koa Vicente scored three out of five, placing 63rd out of 136 players. Elaina Vicente scored one out of five with a win in Round 3.
In the K-12 category, 11th grader Isaiah Rauhaus finished with a score of three out of five, placing 33rd out of 113 players. Ninth and 10th graders Tate Schoolcraft, Pablo Haan and Paco Haan each scored one out of five.
Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you
Mentors help club prepare
Players met regularly to prepare, practicing Mondays during chess club hours and on four extra Saturdays for coaching sessions led by club mentors.
Mentors Robert Bemben and Robin Ray, founders of the club, traveled to Lansing with mentor Adam Masek to support the players, according to the announcement. They helped the players understand pairing sheets, interpret tournament rules and analyze games between rounds.
“I'm so proud of our young team of chess-players — from the standout performances of our most experienced, to the first points scored by the beginners that were brave enough to come with us — to compete at the biggest tournament for Michigan kids ever held!” Masek said in the announcement. “Everyone gave their best in a tough challenge, and I am very fortunate to be a coach for such a fine group of kids and parents. I am very thankful of our partnership with the Petoskey District Library for making our club possible and taking care to grow it over the years.”
This story was created by Janis Reeser, [email protected] with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey chess club competes in Michigan’s largest kids tournament
Continue reading...
