Yes, it's chess at GES

Staff Reports

Dillon McKenzie was the winner of the chess tournament at Gardnerville Elementary School on Monday.

Sixth-grader Owen Galvin played fifth-grade student McKenzie to come in second in the senior division of the contest.

Second-graders Luke Houghton and Jacob Wartgow placed first and second, respectively, in the junior division.

The winners received chess boards or movie passes from principal Cris Etchegoyhen.

Chess advisor Meredith Swanson-Jessup said this is the third year they've had chess tournaments and that each match could go as long as 30-40 minutes.

"Each year we have more kids enter," said Swanson-Jessup. "We hardly get any girls, but hopefully they'll enter now."

Chess is taught by fourth-grade teachers and Swanson-Jessup said she does a quick chess instruction with sixth-grade students.

"This is not timed chess - they can take as long as they want to move," said Swanson-Jessup. "The chess tournaments are open to second grade students on up. They just have to know how to play."