A total of 65 students from schools across the region participated, most competing in their first United States Chess Federation (USCF) rated tournament. The students played 5 rounds of chess, earning 1 point per win, with chess clocks set to 35 minutes each.
K–5 Section
Students in the elementary section represented Arete Charter Academy, Forest Charter, Alta Sierra Elementary, Newcastle Elementary, Deer Creek Elementary, Clear Creek Elementary, Cottage Hill Elementary, Creekside Oaks Elementary, St. Albans Country Day, and Bell Hill Academy.
Individual Results
- 1st Place: Nathan Cook (Clear Creek Elementary) – 5.0 points
- 2nd Place: Beckett Guevin (Deer Creek Elementary) – 5.0 points (tiebreak)
- 3rd Place: Max Bollendorf (Cottage Hill Elementary) – 3.0 points (tiebreak)
Other players scoring 3.0 points included Jesiah Giove and Nainoe Giove (Newcastle Elementary), Delanie Menth (Arete Charter Academy), Colton Percey (Alta Sierra Elementary), and London Wilson (Creekside Oaks Elementary).
Team Results
Team scores are the sum of the top three scorers from each school.
- 1st Place: Arete Charter Academy – 7.5 points (Delanie Menth, Hunter Herring, Jesse Bethancourt)
- 2nd Place: Forest Charter School – 7 points (Jubal Rancher, Ameliah Smith, Oliver Aparicio, Daxton Phillips)
- 3rd Place: Alta Sierra Elementary – 6.5 points (Colton Percey, Xane Lagdamen, Miles Richardson)
6–8 Section
Individual Results
- 1st Place: Isaiah Alves (Feather River Charter School) – 5.0 points
- 2nd Place: Kolohe Paoa (Arete Charter School) – 4.5 points
- 3rd Place (tie): Ronan Rodriguez (Feather River Charter School), Artemi Lebedev (COA Middle School), and Austin Song (Olympus Junior High) – 4.0 points
Team Results
- 1st Place: Feather River Charter School – 12 points (Isaiah Alves, Ronan Rodriguez, Koda Jefferson)
- 2nd Place: Arete Charter School – 10.5 points (Kolohe Paoa, Luukas Coleman, Jackie Bethancourt, Oliver Menth)
- 3rd Place: Olympus Junior High – 10 points (Austin Song, Johny Wang, Darwin Cochell)
Other schools with 3 or more players, forming a team, were the following. Forest Charter (8.5 points) was represented by Courtland Tyler and Alexander Hartmann. Glen Edwards Middle School (8 points) was represented by Arian Cortes, David Uihamoha’Ano and Diego Garcia. Magnolia Intermediate (7 points) was represented by Brady Mathias, Paxton Litchfield, Zachary Sandstedt, Addison Hale, Dylan Gossett, Nico S., Brandon Peterson, and Samuel Stalcup. Union Hill (6.5 points) was represented by Maceo Clay, George Ciraldo, Jameson Cooksey, Brando Marino. Twelve Bridges Middle School (6 points) was represented by Jack Patterson, Paisley Moon, and Sarah Cockcroft.
9–12 Section
Individual Results
- 1st Place: Jayden O’Shaughnessy (Bear River High School) – 5.0 points, undefeated
- 2nd Place: Spencer Rodgers (Nevada Union High School) – 4.0 points
- 3rd Place: Ella Walsh (Bear River High School) – 3.5 points
Team Results
- 1st Place: Bear River High School – 11.5 points (Jayden O’Shaughnessy, Ella Walsh, Simon Jensen, Liam Lerski)
- 2nd Place: Nevada Union High School – 10 points (Spencer Rodgers, Clay Rodgers, Louis Farone)
- 3rd Place: Ghidotti Early College High School – 7.5 points (Jackson Hodgeson, Jasper Levinson, and Alexander Klimek)
Students that came and played individually, but didn’t have the 3 players necessary to form a team in their division were Beckett Guevin from Deer Creek Elementary, Nathan Cook from Clear Creek Elementary, Max Bollendorf & Evrlee Rivera from Cottage Hill Elementary, London Wilson from from Creekside Oaks Elementary, Micah Wijono-Mcclymont from St. Albans Country Day School, Oliver Holt from Bell Hill Academy, Artemi Lebedev from COA Middle School, Emmett North Boucher (home schooled), Mason Key from Sutter High School, and Lestat Loomis and Kolton Smith from Forest Charter School.
Building a Local Chess Community
Tournament organizer Donald Walsh said the event was an encouraging start for promoting competitive scholastic chess in the region.
“This was the first tournament for about 95% of these kids,” Walsh said. “It was a learning experience for everyone—especially for me. I’m very thankful to the coaches, parents, and my wife, Jen Walsh, who helped make it happen.”
Walsh also thanked local superintendents, principals, and families who helped spread the word about the tournament.
“I’m planning to host a USCF-rated tournament about every six months. The kids took their games very seriously, and it was great to see them competing and learning.”
Parents who would like to be notified about future tournaments can sign up through Click Here
Walsh added that one of the biggest lessons chess teaches is resilience.
“The best chess players get upset when they lose or make a mistake, but the key is to shake it off and come back better prepared next time.”