Nandua High School and Nandua Middle School chess players competed in a seven game Round Robin Chess Tournament on December 19, 2019. Forty-four registrants plus six fill-in substitutes played in Advanced, Intermediate, or Beginners sections for a total of fifty competitors. Because of the pairings method used, the tournament hosted players of all levels of experience and ability, thereby giving newer players their first exposure to tournament play, while assuring more experienced players strong competitive opportunities. Trophies were awarded for first and second place finishers in each section.
Winners were Jamie Settle, Skyler Church, Mark Connon, Tucker Greer, Luke Webb, Aiden Mcintire, Oliver Cossitt, Cole Seigle, Jersson Tema, Lucas Connon, Connor Wallace and Austin Shrieves.
This was the first interscholastic competition under the Accomack County Public Schools Chess Club initiative. Most of the NHS players were alumni of the NMS program, which is now in its tenth year. Accomack Superintendent of Schools W. C. Holland said, “I am very proud of the Accomack County students, teachers, and volunteers who participated in this event”.
Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Dr. Rhonda Hall added, “Being a member of the school Chess Club provides students with the opportunity to use higher order thinking skills while having fun and interacting competitively with their peers”.
Alan Silverman of Eastern Shore Scholastic Chess, Inc., said, “Teachers agree that chess teaches complex problem analysis, choosing among alternatives, and responsibility for decisions made, as a complement to other school subjects”.
The ACPS program has clubs operating at the Kegotank Elementary, Arcadia Middle, Nandua Middle, and Nandua High Schools, with more clubs planned throughout the district.
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