Five rounds of chess kept kids busy July 27 during the Midsummer Open Chess Tournament sponsored by the Blaine County School District and county Recreation District.
Action took place at The Community Campus in Hailey. There were 44 children from the Wood River Valley and one 12th-grade boy on vacation from Bozeman, Mont. Giving lessons was Norman Friedman, a local chess expert.
Format was five rounds of Swiss System beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m. with one tie-breaking game between Jonah Olson and Connor Lohrke. Beginners and more practiced players took part.
Adam Porth, tournament director, said experience seemed to pay off. Those kids who play regularly and who have attended tournaments won nine of the 15 trophies.
Highlights included Emily Watts, a determined contestant who would nonchalantly play the opening game and then attack like a "black widow" during the middle and end games, said Ric Dreiling of the Recreation District. She was the only player to win all five rounds.
Desmond Porth needed to draw or win to nail down first place. He pulled off a stalemate against two queens, a bishop, and a rook to secure his first-place victory.
Nick Bruck almost lost heart during a fourth-round loss but played strong in his fifth-round game to win first place in two sections (grades 7-8 and 9-12). Contact Adam Porth, 450-9048 to get involved, support, or join these chess functions.
Trophies were given to:
K-2: 1—Emily Watts. 2—Dan De La Cruz. 3—Connor Lohrke.
Grades 3-4: 1—Desmond Porth. 2—Reilly Neel. 3—Lidja Jurovich.
Grades 5-6: 1—Mary Petzke. 2—Bobby Corker. 3—Catherine Henry.
Grades 7-8: 1—Nick Bruck. 2—Christopher Ellis. 3—Josh Crotty.
Grades 9-12: 1—Nick Bruck. 2—Danny Mills. 3—Mason Arathorn.
