For our Virginia students, there is nothing bigger than the annual State Scholastic Championships, this year held in Charlottesville. About 350 kids came to play, enough to make the championships fun and challenging without being overwhelming.
The U.S. Chess Center was happy that a few dozen of our students played. It was a wonderful experience for all of them, whether they won trophies or not. Seeing students from all parts of the state reinforced the knowledge that there is no typical chess player. Kindergartners and college students all played (in different sections) and, of course, the demographics were as varied as befits a state as large as Virginia.
New friends were made, and students made plans to see each other in upcoming chess tournaments.
