More than 30 students competed in the 2008 Spring South Central Service Cooperative Regional Chess Tournament on March 8 at the St. Peter Community Center. Aaron Julio Ponce de Leon, first place High School finisher, performed remarkably well. He not only went undefeated for the day but also accepted a challenge game from John Flores, USFC Tournament Director, a nationally ranked player, and a board member of the Minnesota Chess Association. When Flores moved his knight, it opened up Aaron’s aligned rook and queen for the winning attack.

Students from 10 schools competed in the tournament including: Bagley, Belle Plaine, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, Mankato Public Schools, Mountain Lake, New Prague, New Ulm, Prior Lake-Savage, Sleepy Eye, and St Peter and several home schooled students.

Amazingly, all first-place finishers were undefeated for the day. And truly, all participants emerged victorious. K–12 students were divided by grade level and paired for four rounds of tactical chess. “Blitz” matches played against the clock served as tie-breakers. The day concluded with an awards ceremony honoring first through third-place division winners.

Does life imitate chess? According to Larry Hansen, Sleepy Eye Public School chess club instructor, it very much does! He recognizes his duty as a chess coach is to help students reach their highest potential in this intellectual and strategic game. But perhaps, even more importantly, the game of chess lends itself to teaching life’s lessons by focusing on chess etiquette. In his opinion, being a good sport in chess makes students much better players. Gloating over victories or grieving over a loss is one of the finest teaching opportunities chess offers among many other lessons in manners and conduct.

Thank you to Steve Harder, Mountain Lake Chess Coach, Brian Combs, St. Peter and Mankato Chess Instructor, and Erick Knight, St. Peter High School, for facilitating the tournament. Students and parents were impressed with the beautiful St. Peter Community Center that was our gracious host.

Trophies and medals awarded for First – Third place:

• Primary Section: Jackson Hillman, Belle Plaine, First Place; Jareya Harder, Mountain Lake, Second Place; Dahna Hunter, Mountain Lake, Third Place
• Elementary Section: Daniel Harder, Mountain Lake, First Place; Daniel Fischer, Sleepy Eye, Second Place; Matt Miller, Sleepy Eye, Third Place
• Middle Section (Sixth Grade): Andrew Hirsch, Mountain Lake, First Place; Christian Pfeiffer, Mountain Lake, Second Place; Tyler Reider, Shakopee, Third Place
• Secondary Section: Aaron Julio Ponce de Leon, Home School, First Place; Jim Louangsaphakdy, Mountain Lake, Second Place; James Skoog, St. Peter, Third Place.