Young chess players win titles at UM competition

ORONO – The annual Maine State Scholastic Individual Championships were held March 19 at the University of Maine.

Sponsored by the UMaine Admissions Office and the College of Engineering, chess players from all over the state gathered to compete for individual honors and the titles of state elementary, junior high, high school under 1,200 and high school champions for 2004-2005.

The entrants included many of the players invited back from earlier team events, and new entrants. Eighty-three players competed.

The kindergarten through grade three section winner was Anna Bryan of Airline Community School in Aurora, with a perfect 4-0 score. In second, with a 3-1 score, was Andy Turner from Deer Isle-Stonington.

The kindergarten through grade six section saw a repeat winner in Drew Fahey of All Saints in Bangor. Fahey had a perfect 4-0 result as well. He is the state elementary champion. In second place was Ian Pelletier of Deer Isle-Stonington with three wins and one draw for a 3.5 score.

In the junior high division, Andrew Jacobs of the Center Drive School in Orrington became the new state junior high champion with a perfect 4-0 score. Nikolai Renedo of the Orono Middle School finished second with a 3.5 score.

In the high school under 1,200 section, Eric Brown and Brian Chick of Bangor High School tied for first with three wins and a draw each. In tie breaks, Eric received the first-place trophy and Brian the second-place trophy.

In the high school championship section, Cullen Edes of Orono became the new state high school champion with a perfect score of 4-0. Four players tied for second with 3-1 scores: Alex Kimball of Westbrook, Zening Chen of Orono, and Conor Campbell and Kevin Townsend of John Bapst in Bangor. Kimball received the second-place trophy.

Tournament directors for the event were Phillip Lowell, president of the Maine Chess Association, Ralph Townsend and Lee Doucette. The event organizer was Ron Lewis.

John Bapst Memorial High School will hold a Chessathon on April 2 as a fund-raiser to help the students attend the National Chess Championships later in April in Nashville, Tenn. The events include quads, Blitz and Bughouse competitions. E-mail Ralph Townsend at ralph.townsend@umit.maine.edu for entry and information.