Primary section largest in Queen’s Quest

MADISON – Students from Alabama and Tennessee entered the 2016 Queen’s Quest Chess Tournament at Mill Creek Elementary School.

Tournament sponsor was Sullins Eye Care Center. Mill Creek chess sponsor Tera Saaristo and other Mill Creek parents volunteered to help with Queen’s Quest. Madison City Chess League (MCCL) coordinated the event.

“One special feature of this year’s Queen’s Quest was a chess bag giveaway, sponsored by the House of Staunton. Competitors voted on new designs, and a drawing determined the top choice,” MCCL Executive Director Ranae Bartlett said.

Primary (K-3) was the tournament’s largest section. “The youngest competitors were fearless as many found themselves competing in their first, rated chess tournament,” Bartlett said. “Indeed, half of the competitors were unrated.”

The Primary section had new stars emerge with three more students qualifying for the 2017 City Chess Championship: Anaya Naphade, Mill Creek Elementary School; and Landon Drummond and Artem Starenki, Rainbow Elementary School. All three are members of All Star Chess Club.

“Last year, the decision was made to divide the Elementary section of Queen’s Quest into an Under 500 and a Championship section. This made competition for students in the largest section of competitive chess in Madison, as well as the rest of the United States, more meaningful and manageable,” Bartlett said.

That decision was wise because “we saw a similar number of students register to compete in both the Under 500 and Elementary championship sections this year,” she said.

Two Discovery Middle School students qualified for the 2017 City Chess Championship: Jenson Wilhelm and Will Bao.

Bob Jones High School won first place in the Open section.

For more information, email mccl.director@gmail.com or visit madisonchess.com or madisonchess.com/blog/2016-queens-quest-the-results-are-in.