Students Place High at State Chess Tourney, Although Shorthanded

These boys know their chess.

eighth grader Leo Segal and seventh graders Justyn Fine and Jake Siefker took fifth place as a team at the Minnesota State Chess Association tournament in the K-9 section in April.

Individually, Justyn came in fifth place overall, Leo in ninth and Jake in 13th. All three qualified to play at the national tournament. 

The three middle school students competed against teams with many players.

“We played at a disadvantage because team scores are based on the top four individual players’ scores among all team members," Leo explained. "There are only three of us, and we still came in fifth place.”  

At tournaments, students play seven games. Players are granted one point for a win, a half point for a draw and no points for a loss toward their tournament score.  

The students started playing and competing in chess tournaments when they were members of the chess club.

“It was a big club, we even took first place one year,” Justyn said. “But in middle school, not many people are interested in chess because they are involved in other activities.”  

The boys work with private coaches and travel to tournaments to compete during the school year. Jake said they play in about 15 to 20 tournaments a year. Despite the fact there is no club at MMW, the boys’ love of chess keeps them playing.  

The boys have big plans for next year.

“We want to start a club at West,” said Justyn.

Leo, who will be a freshman at , hopes there will be a high school coach and a club that will attract students from the middle schools so that it will be a stronger team.