ORONO – An estimated 275 chess players gathered over a recent weekend at the University of Maine for the 35th annual State of Maine Scholastic Chess Championships.

From kindergarten through grade 12, players came from across the state to joust for team honors in what is believed to be the biggest single chess event held in Maine. The tournament was supported by the University of Maine admissions office and the College of Engineering.

Contests open to kindergarten through grade 12 players in Maine determined elementary, junior high and high school team champions.

In the new kindergarten through grade three section, Deer Isle-Stonington took first place, while the Airline School of Aurora took second place.

Deer Isle team members are Eric Babbitt, Andrew Turner,

David McManus, Lucas Oliver, Ivan Zembrusky, Walter Kumiega, Tyler Robbins, Doug Heansster, Tyler Bartlett, Sasha Zembrusky, Cameron Wendell and Zach Chmiel.

Tyler Robbins of Deer Isle-Stonington took top unrated honors.

In the kindergarten through grade six division, Deer Isle-Stonington was the winner, with All Saints of Bangor taking second place. Deer Isle team members are Andrew Babbitt, Ian Pelletier, Hayden Ciomei, Sam Grindle, Goldie Garcia, Connor Morey, Chelsea Brown, Janelle Ciomei, Nathan Davis, Nick Eaton, Alec Eaton and Jacob Starkey.

Michael Riley of Maranatha Homeschool in Washington County took top unrated honors.

In the junior high section, 13 teams competed, with Orono emerging as the champion and Deer Isle-Stonington second. Orono team members are Nikolai Renedo, Avery Cole, John Robinson, Gabe Borland, Darren Casey-Covell, Henry Chai, Ari Dimoulas, Thomas Gillett, Paul Robinson, Connor O’Donnell and Blake Eden.

Margaret Bryan of Airline Community School in Amherst was the top girl finisher and was invited to the individuals. Nicholas Beal of Maranatha Homeschool took top unrated honors in the section.

In the high school championship section, with 14 teams vying for the title, John Bapst Memorial High School took first, with Orono taking second. John Bapst team members in the five-player match play format were Kevin Townsend, Ray Soliger, Jordan Trundy, Fritz Eyerer and Colin Campbell.

John Bapst also was first in the high school reserve section. Orono won second place.

In the novice section for kindergarten through grade six, South Bristol took first place and Stillwater Montessori School placed second.

South Bristol took first place in the junior high novice section, while Piscataquis Community Middle School came in second.

In the high school novice section, Deer Isle-Stonington and Bucksport tied for first, with the first-place trophy going to Deer Isle on tie breaks.

For information about scholastic chess in Maine, visit the Web site at www.

mainechess.org.