Author: Dennis Mays
Century HS Chess Team’s Second Place Finish Leads Rochester’s Success At The 2024 Scholastic State Tournament
By Chuck Handlon, Secretary / Treasurer Rochester Area Scholastic Chess League March 9, 2024.
The Century HS Varsity Chess Team achieved the highest placement in its 24-year history at the Minnesota State Chess Association 2024 K – 12 Scholastic Tournament. Century finished second with 18 points, just shy of defending champion Eastview HS which gained 20.5 points. But it was not just Century’s accomplishment that highlighted the trophy ceremony. Rochester Public Schools chess awards permeated the entire tournament. Dakota Middle School finished third in the K – 8 division and Ben Franklin Elementary achieved second in the K – 5 division.
The tournament was held at the University of St. Thomas March 8th & 9th where over 300 students in grades K – 12 competed in seven rounds of chess. Players obtain one point for a win and one-half point for a draw.
In addition to the team trophies, several Rochester players attained individual recognition. Logan Anderson, a Ben Franklin student, placed 15th overall in the K – 5 group. In the K – 8 division Johan Myburgh from Kellogg placed 5th in the under 1000 United State Chess Federation (USCF) rating group. Josh Wang, also from Kellogg, placed 10th overall. Calder Nguyen, an 8th grader at Dakota, placed second. Calder qualified for the playoff between the top six K – 8 finishers which will occur in April. The winner will be the Minnesota representative to the National K – 8 Championship.
The individual winners in the high school cohort include two Century players. Freshman Cole Lappi was 5th in the under 1300 USCF rating while senior Jayan Jayachandran was first. Lourdes sophomore Joseph Bell was fourth in the same rating. Mayo freshman Isaac Sellon took 7th place overall in the high school section.
At the tournament awards ceremony, recognition was also given to teams and individuals which participated in the 2023 – 24 Minnesota High School Chess League (MHSCL) online competition. Century’s Jayan Jayachandran was the top point getter on Board 2. The All RASCL (Rochester Area Scholastic Chess League) team composed of four Century players took third place overall.
For more information contact RASCL Secretary Chuck Handlon chuckwheelerhandlon@gmail.com and go to https://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/century-high-school-earns-strongest-chess-score-in-its-24-year-history
Free Tuesday Night Blitz, March 19.
Tuesday Night Blitz at the Rochester Chess meeting on Tuesday, March 19. USCF-Rated Blitz: G/5;d0. 5 Double Rounds (10 games) Swiss starting at 6:30 PM. USCF membership is required. Open to all ratings.
Entry fee: Free event but you must SIGN UP https://forms.gle/RwqMNP2uQv2n9cVQ8. Please register before 6:00 PM online.
Site: Mayo Clinic Harwick Building, South Cafeteria, 201 3rd Avenue SW, Rochester, MN. Park for free on the street after 5 PM weekdays/all day on weekends or in a nearby parking ramp.
Questions: E-mail: mwmarkland@gmail.com
ROCHESTER CHESS THIS WEEK: GAME ANALYSIS LED BY NATIONAL MASTER MATT JENSEN ON MARCH 12 AT 7:00 PM AND MARCH MENTATL GYMNASTICS QUADS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 16.
National Master Matt Jensen, AKA Smarter Chess of ChessGoals, will lead a game analysis session on March 12 at 7 PM. Bring a game to share with the group. Create a game study on http://Lichess.org to facilitate analysis.
March Mental Gymnastics Quads. USCF-Rated Exerciser Quads: G/60;+30 on March 16. Rounds at 10:00am, 1:30pm, and ASAP afterwards. USCF membership is required. Players are grouped based on ratings. All ages are welcome but players are expected to demonstrate good chess etiquette.
Entry fee: Free event but you must SIGN UP Registration. Please register before 9:30 AM online.
Site: Mayo Clinic Harwick Building, South Cafeteria, 201 3rd Avenue SW, Rochester, MN. Park for free on the street all day on weekends or in a nearby parking ramp.
Doors open at 9:30 AM and games start at 10:00 AM.
Questions: E-mail: mwmarkland@gmail.com