03.31.20 Students from accross the state competed in the Maine Scholastic Team Chess Championships at the University of Maine on Saturday, March 7, 2020. Here is the tournament report, albeit a bit delayed, with results, crosstables, and images from the day.

US Chess Crosstable of this event

Team Results by Section

Thanks to Kate Erwin, Bruce Haffner, Nita Patel, and Alex Relyea for contributing to this report.

Orono High School dominated the High School Team Championship section with 17.5 points out of a possible 20. Team scores included Tommy Owen 3.5, Tristan Cousineau 3.0, Evan Smith 4.0, Liam Farrell 4.0, and Tommaso Wheeler 3.0.

Runners-Up in the High School Championship section was John Bapst Memorial High School with 12.5 points.

In third place, just half a point out of second, was Deer Isle-Stonington High School with 12.0 points.

In the High School Reserve section, Bangor High School and John Bapst Memorial High School finished equal first with 9.0 points apiece. Belfast Area High School took clear third with 7.0 points.

Bonny Eagle Middle School scored 17.0 points to take first place in the Middle School Championship section on performances by Declan Thomas 4.0, Maximillian Matthews 4.0, Jace Anastacio 3.0, Jaxson Sprowl 3.0, and Ethan Baker 3.0.

Cape Elizabeth Middle School finished second with 15.5 points and Cohen Middle School took third with 14.5 points.

Ellsworth Elementary Middle School took first in the Novice section with 10.0 points. Monmouth Middle School was just off the leader's pace with 7.5 points and clear second.

Wetherbee Elementary School and Ames Elementary School shared the top honors in the K-5 section. Both schools scored 14.5 points and are 2020 K-5 Maine State Champions.

Camden-Rockport Elementary School, just off the lead with 14.0 points, took third place.

A two-way tie ensued in the K-3 Championship section between Camden-Rockport Elementary School and Captain Albert Stevens School each who put up 3.0 points and share the title of Maine K-3 Champions.

Lincolnville Central School was just one draw (half a point) back with 8.5.

In the K-1 section, Camden-Rockport Elementary School took clear first with 8.5 points. Lincolnville Central School finished second with 6.5 and Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School put up 4.5 points for third place.

Elementary Sections Tournament Report Submitted by Bruce Haffner

This was the first year Maine ran a separate K-1 division in the Teams Championship and it was a huge success.

Thirteen students entered: four from Camden-Rockport, three from Lincolnville Central School, two from Deer Isle-Stonington and one each from Bangor Montessori, Hope, and Captain Albert Stevens. (All but Deer Isle-Stonington and Bangor Montessori are schools of mine).

First graders have a huge maturity advantage over Kindergartners and CRES had two first graders: Will Kaplan, who won all four games and Julian Funk, who won three of four. We only had one first grader, Clara Harbaugh, who won three of her games.

More first graders would have given us a real boost!

Our Kindergartners did an amazing job: Charlie Small won two games, Silas Beach won 1.5 games and Freddie Fishman won one game. The top three finishers could towards the team's total and we had 6.5 wins, giving us a solid 2nd place finish but well short of CRES, who had 8.5 wins.

Our best chance for a first place finish was in the K-3 section because we had so many students who did so well last year as 2nd graders. After the first round there was a three-way tie: Camden Rockland Elementary School, Captain Albert Stevens School and Lincolnville Central School each had three wins (the top three children's' records are counted).

After round one Oren, Jack, Ray, Lily and Anderson had wins: we were looking good! We only picked up 1.5 points in round two and dropped back into a tie with CASS at 4.5, one full point behind CRES. In round three we picked up and amazing 2.5 wins and passed up CASS; the score was CRES 7.5, LCS 7 and CASS 6. We did just as well as CRES did in round four, picking up 1.5 wins. The problem was CASS surged and picked up 3 wins to tie CRES for 1st place with nine wins. We had 8.5 wins and finished in third place.

Oren played his last game in the top position and had he won he would have been State Champion as a 2nd grader in the K-3 section which would have been an amazing feat. Jack O'Brien also had three wins, a solid finish. Maggie Harbaugh and Ray Beach each had 2.5 wins. Lily Fishman and Anderson Janaitis each had two wins and Eva Skrivanich and Eva Hurley each had one win.

Our amazing sixth graders who started the LCS dynasty when they were in 3rd grade decided to retire. They had won States as 3rd graders in the K-3 section and then won the K-6 section twice in a row. It was sad to see them go but they will reap the rewards from all they learned in chess for the rest of their lives.

Maine changed the Middle School division so it aligns with the US Chess Federation designation: it is now grades 6-8.

We had three in this division: Gabe Lippman, who won three games, Noah Seliger won 2 and Andy O'Brien, who won one game. Since the top five players in the division count towards your team's total we didn't have a chance to win. However, we did take 8th in State with 6 wins.

The benefits of chess are straightforward: chess teaches logic, science (the scientific method of developing a plan, testing it, adjusting it and re-testing it is the basis of planning and learning) and creativity. I know the rigors of parenting and I know how busy everyone is. What follows is a great story about how a chess mom at CRES found chess, made the time and fully engaged with her children.

2020 Maine High School Team Champions: Orono High School

Runners-Up: John Bapst Memorial High School

Deer Isle-Stonington High School took third in the High School Championship section.

Jon Dearing, head coach of the Bangor High School chess team, represents his team's first place finish in the High School Reserve section.

John Bapst Memorial High School finished second in the High School Reserve section.

Bonny Eagle Middle School captured the 2020 Maine Middle School Team Championship.

Runners-Up in the Middle School Championship section: Cape Elizabeth Middle School

William S. Cohen Middle School took third in the Middle School Championship section.

Ellsworth Elementary Middle School came first in the Middle School Novice section.

Middle School Novice Runners-Up: Monmouth Middle School

Third in the Middle School Novice section: Piscataquis Community Elementary School

Co-Champions in the K-5 Championship section: Wetherbee Elementary School

Co Champions in the K-5 Championship section: Ames Elementary School

Camden-Rockport Elementary School, just half a point off the champions' pace, finished third in the K-5 Championship section.

K-3 Co-Champions: Camden-Rockport Elementary School

Equally triumphant and sharing equal first place in the K-3 Championship section: Captain Albert Stevens School

Lincolnville Central School took third in the K-3 Championship section.

Tournament Director Kate Erwin announces the K-1 State Champions: Camden-Rockport Elementary School

Triumphant in the K-1 Championship section: Camden-Rockport Elementary School

Representing the K-1 Championship team from Camden-Rockport Elementary School: William Kaplan

Runners-Up in the K-1 Championship section: Lincolnville Central School

Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School tool third in the K-1 Championship section.

Dario Ravelli (left) faces off against Frances Bayless in the final round of the K-3 Championship section. Frances went on to post a perfect score of four wins in four games for All Saints Catholic School.

The crew from Lincolnville: (front left) Eva Hurley and Devon Schrivanich, (back left) Ray Beach, Andy O'Brien, Owen Hurley, Anderson Janaitis, Maggie Harbaugh, and Lily Fishman.

Congratulations and camaraderie all around

Wes Engstrom of Captain Albert Stevens School prepares for his game in the K-3 Championship section.

Team Harbaugh!

Volunteer tournament directors check teams in on the morning of the tournament.

The Collins Center for the Arts provided ample space for the 2020 Scholastic Team Championships.

Action in the high school sections

Dr. Elisabeth Fowlie Mock sanitizes boards, clocks, and pieces before the start of the tournament.

Beautiful, hand-crafted wooden trophies announce the Webber Cup scheduled to be played at Bonny Eagle Middle School on May30th.

Thanks to all who made this tournament a great success. An event of this size and magnitude requires much planning, preparation, and coordinated execution. The Maine Chess Association would like to extend heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all who contributed to the running of this tournament including: players, parents, coaches, drivers, volunteers, directors, organizers, and the University of Maine. Thank you all so much and stay well until next time!