Orono student wins UM chess competition

ORONO – Orono High School student Germaine Kickert won the Maine Scholastic High School Championship section with a perfect 4.0 points at the University of Maine.

Plowing through her competition: Keji Xu, Matthew Colson, Aaron Spencer and finally Fritz Eyerer, Kickert became the first female player to capture the Maine High School Individual Championship since Emily Giambalvo of Hampden Academy in 1988.

Six players with 3.0 points trailed Kickert and tied for second: Fritz Eyerer, John Bapst Memorial High School; Lucas McCain, Yarmouth Academy; Aaron Spencer, John Bapst; Alba Briggs IV, Maranatha Home School Fellowship, Lubec; Margaret Bryan, John Bapst; and Andrew Audibert, Bangor High.

Ryan Vienneau of Orono High scored 3.5 points and took first in the High School Reserve section for those rated under 1200 in the U.S. Chess Federation. He began with a draw vs. Ben Morgan of Westbrook High School, then won three in a row from Omar Khan, John Bapst; Kurt Eyerer, John Bapst; and Nikolai Renedo, Orono High. Renedo tied for second, scoring 3.0 points along with Ben Morgan, Andrew Seavey and Samuel Touchett.

Besides Kickert, the only other player to go unbeaten and untied in four rounds was Cape Elizabeth’s Ethan DiNinno, who won the Junior High School section. Ranked 14th of 21 players in his section with a USCF rating of 575, DiNinno surprised the field with his strong, consistent chess.

Former kindergarten-grade six Individual State Champion Gianluca Pane scored 3.5 points to take clear second, and four players tied for third with 3.0 points: Paul Rudnicki, Matthew Colson, Matthew Fishbein and Jiawei Zou.

A three-way tie for first in the kindergarten-grade six section provided delighted spectators with exciting games.

Andrew Turner, Deer Isle-Stonington; Wesley Parker, Cape Elizabeth; and Zachary Hamilton, Glenburn, all scored 3.5 points to share the title. They were followed by three players with 3.0 points: Matthew Reale-Hatem, Cape Elizabeth; Haley DeLuca Lowell, Airline School; and John Kenneway, Old Town.

The kindergarten-grade three title was won by Bethany Humphrey of Deer Isle-Stonington with 3.5 points. Tied for second at 3.0 were George Payne and Eli Spahn, Palermo.

Alongside the scholastic tournaments, the Fourth Annual Sidekick Quads to raise money for Maine Scholastic Chess were contested.

In Quad 1 a three-way tie ensued among Roger Morin, Tom Sandford and Ben Johnson. Quad 2 saw a clear winner, Daniel Fishbein, and Steven Giangiordano won Quad 3.

The individual scholastic tournaments were directed by Lee Doucette and Philip Lowell, organized by Kathy Richards, overall coordinator Ron Lewis. The Sidekick Quads were organized and directed by Alba Briggs. Thanks go to the Maine Association of Chess Coaches, the University of Maine, coaches, parents and players.

For information, check the award-winning Chess Maine Web page at http://chess

maine.net.