04/03/2023
Checkmate. This was our seventh tournament in the past nine years. (Covid shut down our event in 2020 and then again in 2022 .) From the most “rookie rooks” to the “Queen’s gambit”, everyone had a great time this past Saturday, April 1, 2023.  So many volunteers “pawned” day and “knight” to make it happen. Thank you first of all to our wonderful tournament Director (since 2015) and his able and willing wife, “King” Chris and “Queen” Barbara Yeats.  Very grateful for Scott McCrary for setting up the online registration once again this year! And A HUGE thank you to MacKensie 'Chew' Mathison!!! Most definitely, without her heroic efforts, (and the generosity of Darnaby PTA) we wouldn’t have had our event this year! 
It should be mentioned that Kristen Lamar from Darnaby and Megan Rodriguez from Cedar Ridge manned our event the entire day! Also, former Chess Tournament participants Parker Mathison and Zane Roy worked as judges all day. (Zane’s dad Jess Roy also judged.)
Over 80 Union elementary kids Kindergarten through 5th grade got the opportunity to participate in a tournament style chess competition without the pressure of being rated. This was the first real competition for most of our participants. Experiencing the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat is a part of life and chess. Lessons were learned and memories were made. It was a success!
All hail the King of the Realm! 👑 ♟️ 🏅
Special recognition goes to Cedar Ridge elementary for being awarded both “most participants” and “highest percentage of wins”!