With brows knotted in concentration, elementary school students from around Santa Rosa take part in the inaugural all-district chess tournament Friday at Helen Lehman School.
Santa Rosa chess students make their moves
By KERRY BENEFIELD
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, January 30, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 30, 2009 at 11:24 p.m.
More than 50 kids from eight Santa Rosa elementary schools went rook to rook, queen to queen Friday at the first ever all-district chess tournament.
The play of Diego Avalos was singled out — the Helen Lehman student on two occasions checkmated his opponent in just four moves.
Teachers touted the six-week after-school program, taught by the nonprofit Chess for Kids, as a way to promote problem solving, strategy, etiquette and discipline. The program was sponsored by the district Gifted and Talented Education program.
Staged in the Helen Lehman Elementary School multipurpose room, students played three rounds of games on rows of lunch tables.
Parents were cordoned off behind a row of orange cones.
“I just want to have fun and play fair,” said Miguel Huerta, 9, of Lincoln Elementary. “It’s all about focus and strategy.”
Most of the players Friday were new to the game, but many instructors said chess is enjoying an uptick in popularity on campuses around Santa Rosa.
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This once again proves that chess is huge in spite of the destruction of the USCF in the hands of Goichberg and Berry.