03.23.08 The Girls Scholastic Championship, played at the University of Maine, Orono on Saturday, March 22nd, went down to the last games in both the Championship and U600 sections. Sorel Edes managed a draw in her last round game vs. Haley DeLuca Lowell to give her 3.5 points and the title in the Championship section. In the last round of the U600 section, Julia Shaffer defeated Anne Witick to score a perfect 4.0 and take clear first. We bring you the illustrated tournament report with crosstables and video.

A small crowd gathers to watch the dramatic ending of the game DeLuca Lowell vs. Edes. The game ended in a draw which gave Sorel Edes 3.5 points and first in the Championship section. John Bapst Freshman Margaret Bryan took second and fifth-grader Haley DeLuca Lowell, third. Crosstable of this event

As girls scholastic chanpion, Sorel Edes is eligible to represent Maine at the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls to be played July 27 - August 1, 2008 at Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock, Texas.

The last round game between Sorel Edes (right) and Haley DeLuca Lowell gets underway. The result was a well-played draw with white having king and bishop vs. black with king and g- and h-pawns.

First in the Championship section: Sorel Edes

Second place: 2006 Girls Champion, Margaret Bryan

Third in the Chanpionship section with 2.5 points: Haley DeLuca Lowell

The final position (black king on h1) of the third round game Edes - Bryan 1-0. This game put Sorel Edes in sole possession of first going into the last round and netted her the trophy for the biggest upset of the tournament (220 points).

Margaret Bryan makes a move in her last round game vs. Deer Isle - Stonington's Goldie Garcia.

Miriam Nielsen does the same in her round four game vs. Olympia Serban.

Winners in the Championship section (left to right) Sorel Edes, Margaret Bryan and Haley DeLuca Lowell.

This last round game in the U600 section gave Julia Shaffer (left) 4.0 points and clear first. Her opponent, Anne Witick, tied for second with three other players each scoring 3.0 points.

The draw at hand: A closer look at the Shaffer - Witick game reveals white can draw after the king moves by playing 1. Rd8+ 2. R8d7+ 3. Rd8+ etc.

Jessica Chen scored 3.0 points in the U600 section to tie for second with...

...Janelle Ciomei and...

...Bethany Humphrey.

Winners in the U600 section (left to right): Anne Witick (tied for second, third place trophy on tiebreaks), Jessica Chen (tied for second, second place trophy on tiebreaks), Julia Shaffer (first), Bethany Humphrey (tied for second, fifth on tiebreaks) and Janelle Ciomei (tied for second, forth on tiebreaks).

Goldie Garcia

Olympia Serban

Martha Witick

Miriam Nielsen

Kaitlyn Haase

Anne Witick

Megan Weeks

Cindi Currier

Kristen Weeks

Lisa Tapley

Madeline Allan-Rahill

Isabel Mahoney

Louise Nielsen

Maine Association of Chess Coaches members Ron Lewis and Kathy Richards chat over the results.

The skittles room

Deer - Isle Stonington legend Dick Powell sporting a chess t-shirt from his vast collection.

Hey, those aren't scholastic girls. John Bapst senior Zach Smith (left) and Airline Community School coach Andy Bryan play a skittles game.

Video Impressions

This tournament was organized and directed by Dan DeLuca. Assistant tournament directors were Andy Bryan and Laddy DeLuca Lowell. Special thanks to Fred Irons, Ron Lewis, Dick Powell, Kathy Richards, Tom Sandford and the University of Maine, Orono. Big thanks also to all the players and the parents and coaches who support them.