Ninth annual Peel Chess Tournament

Nearly 950 students from approximately 80 Peel District School Board schools will participate in the board’s ninth annual Peel Chess Tournament.

It’s being held this week (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) at the HJA Brown Education Centre in Mississauga.

“When students play chess, they are captivated by the game as it engages their attention and imagination,” commented Gus Skarlatakis, event organizer and teacher at Brian W. Fleming Public School. “Chess teaches students how to problem solve and think logically and creatively.”

The elementary competition, involving students in Grades 2 to 5, took place yesterday (Wednesday), and the Grade 6 to 8 competitors will participate today. The morning play will begin at 9:45 a.m., with championship rounds beginning at 11:45 a.m. Each grade level championship match will commence at 1:15 p.m. Remaining participants continue to play chess throughout the afternoon in the school champions’ round. At 1:45 p.m. each day, an awards ceremony will recognize the tournament winners from each division and the schools with the most wins per player.

The secondary competition will take place Friday, beginning at 8:30 a.m., with the champions of the north division playing the champions of the south division. At 9:45 a.m., the qualifying round begins with championship rounds starting at noon. The awards ceremony will follow the championships at 1:45 p.m.