For the past two months, a new club has been meeting at the Spur school to play chess. The group meets on Monday afternoons in the cafeteria for practice and over the board games. Spur Chess has upcoming matches with other teams, and plans to play in area tournaments as they reinstituted following Covid-19 shutdowns.
On Monday, May 3, the club held its first annual club championship tournament. Players tested wits in a four-round Swiss-style tournament. Preston Abbott used a patient, positional approach with the black pieces to defeat Andrew Pafford and win the overall club championship by a score of 3½ points to 3. Seventh grader Steven Holum finished 3rd in the Junior High and High School age group.
Kodah Tagle scored impressive victories over Lily Vaughn, Kimberly Pafford, and Steven Holum, combined with a hardfought draw against overall champion Preston Abbott to amass 3½ points—good enough to win the Upper Elementary division, comprising students in grades 4–6. Jaxon Bateman chalked up 3 points and Wade McGalliard 2½ to finish 2nd and 3rd in the Upper Elementary Division, respectively.
The Kindergarten–Third Grade Elementary Division played a separate three-round Swiss tournament. Ivy Vargas and Kylee Molina each finished with 2½ points, and drew their head-to-head match. Ivy Vargas took home the K-3 champi onship trophy on a tie break. Zaivree Childers, who always plays a touch match, finished a close 3rd with 2 points.
After a brief hiatus for the first few weeks of summer break, the Spur Chess Club will resume summer meeting on June 14.
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