Webster University Chess Team Co-Hosts First Tournament for Local Schools
Saturday's tournament was the first-ever for Webster Groves K-6 schools and attracted
more than 50 young competitors
ST. LOUIS (MAY 5, 2014) - For the first time in the Webster Groves School District’s history, the K-6 schools
held a district-wide chess tournament on Saturday, May 3. More than 50 students from
seven of Webster Groves’ eight elementary schools competed.
Members of Webster University’s SPICE chess program officiated and co-sponsored the
tournament. At the end of the tournament, students who won medals at the tournament
played chess against Webster student and chess grandmaster Manuel Leon Hoyos, a former
US Open champion and reigning National Open Champion.
“It’s exciting that this is the first ever tournament for the school district,” said
Jane Baumgartner, secretary to the school board and one of the district’s organizers
of the event. “It’s especially exciting to have this enthusiastic response of more
than 50 students and their parents. There was so much excitement for it.”
Chess is relatively new to the Webster Groves School District, explained Paul Truong,
director of Marketing for the SPICE program. He said Webster University Chess Head
Coach Susan Polgar strongly believes in the value of supporting chess clubs in elementary,
junior high and high schools, as studies have repeatedly shown that students who play
chess excel in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) classes that they
take. Because of that, she has met with school district officials, offering support
to local chess programs.
“Only one school does not offer chess right now. By the fall, every school in Webster
Groves, including the junior high and high schools, will have a chess program,” Truong
said. “Susan had meetings with teachers where she taught them how to play chess, as
well as showing them how to teach their students how to play chess.”
The tournament started at 10 a.m. Saturday at Steger Sixth Grade Center with remarks
from Polgar and school district officials. Students were led into the cafeteria where
several dozen chess boards were laid out and numbered and students were told which
board they would play at and who they were facing. The students were split into two
groups - K-3 and 4-6 - so that there wasn’t a significant age difference against players.
Players then played four rounds and faced a different opponent in each round. They
earned one point for each win, zero point for each loss, and a half-point for each
draw. During the tournament, parents were not allowed in the cafeteria (to avoid possible
distraction or interference), so most stood outside with their faces pressed against
the windows, trying to see how their children were performing.
“My son Lucca was really excited about this tournament and really wants to focus
more on chess,” said Tom Lane, father of the fourth-grade boy. “I have never seen
him so happy for a school event, and I’m really glad we were able to fit this in on
our Saturday.”
At the end of the event, trophies were handed out to the best K-3 and 4-6 players,
as well as to the teams with the best average scores. The top two students from each
grade also were given medals for their performance and then invited to play against
grandmaster Hoyos. Most of the students took up Hoyos’ challenge and played against
him for another hour.
Photos of the tournament can be found online at: https://picasaweb.google.com/116302832360230031699/WebsterGrovesSchoolDistrictChessChampionship.
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