CHESS CHAMPS
Youth chess tournament takes over Spa City
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.>> Young chess players from around the state and beyond competed in the 50th annual New York State Scholastic Championship over the weekend in the Spa City.
This year marked the golden anniversary of the event, which is one of the United States Chess Federation’s longestrunning tournaments.
A total of about 1200 children from kindergarten to 12th grade competed this year in Saratoga Springs making it the largest chess tournament rated by the United States Chess Federation ever held in upstate New York.
The 2017 tournament, held at the Saratoga Springs City Center and the Courtyard Marriott, exceeded the highest participation record for the second year in a row.
“Last year we broke the record, this year we shattered it,” said floor chief David Hater.
This increase in attendance represents an overall trend in the popularity of chess, Hater said.
“The scholastic programs in New York and in other areas of the country are just taking off. Schools are very much sponsoring chess clubs, getting kids involved in chess. It just is growing in unprecedented numbers, really,” he said. “It’s just on an upward trajectory.”
A group of competitors even
traveled in from Canada this year to be part of the tournament.
“I like to challenge myself,” said Eric Yin, a young boy from Quebec, before his fifth round of chess for the weekend.
“It’s good for the kids,” Yin’s mom Jing Yang said. “It’s a good experience.”
Out-of-state competitors can’t move on to play in the national championship, but they can take home the trophy and win the waived entrance fees for other competitions.
“That’s quite valuable,” Hater noted.
While some kids don’t care much about the physical trophies, Hater said, “The right to represent your state in the tournament that’s a big deal.”
Some winner’s from this past weekend’s tournament will go to Norfolk, Va. to compete for a national title.
Coach Rob Lazorchak of Success Academy Charter Schools Hell’s Kitchen in New York City said he and his team were very happy to be in Saratoga Springs at the tournament. “It’s very well run,” he said.
Success Academy Charter Schools had approximately 150 students at the tournament, making up about 10 percent of the contestants.
Lazorchak’s chess team has a two-hour practice once a week after school, in addition to the chess playing that is part of the school’s curriculum. On the weekends, students play against other Success Academy Charter Schools teams, as well as participate in events throughout the city. Some kids even take private lessons on the side.
On Sunday afternoon, the Hell’s Kitchen team was tied for seventh place, but Lazorchak was hoping they’d move up before the end of the tournament
Nevertheless, “The kids love it,” Lazorchak said. “They love competing. They love learning about it.”
For more information on the tournament, including results, visit nyscholastics. com.