10/29/2011 BCPS Success at the Greater Baltimore Scholastic Chess Tournament

The Maryland Chess Association sponsored its first scholastic chess tournament ever in Baltimore on Saturday, 10/29/2011 at Poly/Western High School. Despite inclement weather and the threat of snow over 175 players competed with teams coming from as far away as Virginia and Delaware.

Baltimore Kids Chess League players protected their home turf as they collected 15 trophies. BCPS produced two individual champions  - Corwyn Shochet of the Midtown Academy took first in the Elementary Novice division while Joseph Grant of Poly tied for first in the High School Championship division. Wolfe Street Academy won the elementary unrated team division while Cross Country EMS won the middle school team championship and Baltimore Polytechnic took the high school team championship. Other BCPS schools earning team trophies included Baltimore Montesorri, Hamilton EMS, Edgecombe, Medfield Heights, Mergenthaler, FAST, City College and Woodhome. Organizers from MCA were impressed with the facility and the turnout and plan on holding another event in Baltimore next year.

Steve Alpern

Commissioner, Baltimore Kids Chess League

www.baltimorekidschess.org

Chess makes kids smarter