Check mates

EPHRATA — More than 100 students from across Grant and Adams counties gathered Saturday at Parkway School for the Annual Scholastic Chess Tournament, a long‑running event hosted by The Waypoint Foundation that pairs young players of all ages in a day of strategy, sportsmanship and community spirit.

The tournament, now in its 19th year, has grown from about 60 participants to as many as 106 in recent years.

“(It’s) for the love of the game,” said organizer Roger Pugh. “Chess is great. We try to help them understand that when you play chess, you’ve got to think a few moves ahead. So hopefully in life, when they go out in the world, they do the same when making a decision.”

The event is open to all K-12 students living in or attending school in Grant or Adams counties, including homeschooled and private school students. Participation is capped at 100 players, and this year’s tournament filled several weeks in advance.

Roger said chess offers children valuable skills that go beyond the game board.

“I mean, what could they be doing right now? They could be sitting at home on a video game or doing something stupid,” he said. “Instead, they’re learning to use their brain, working with others, winning or losing with grace and shaking the hands of their opponents.”

Students of all ages

The tournament uses the Swiss pairing system, which matches students based on performance rather than age or grade level. That format often leads to unlikely pairings and unexpected friendships, Roger said.

Ten‑year‑old Danie Kashetich signed up for his first tournament this year, saying he came “just to have fun.” Even after a rough start on the scoreboard, he said he was learning a lot.

“My favorite part is meeting new people,” he said. “Just to learn new things.”

For 9-year-old Amelia Kieha, winning her first game was a highlight.

“It’s really fun, and you feel really proud of yourself,” she said. Losing, she added, “makes you want to get better in the next game.”

Others have been returning year after year. Junior Drew Weitzel of Ephrata has played in four tournaments.

“It’s a fun thing to do,” he said. “Even if you lose, it’s still a fun time. You’ve got to go slow with your moves.”

Fifth‑grader Rajaveer Singh said his favorite part of the tournament is the life lessons that come with the game.

“If I win, I really like that,” he said. “If I lose, I learn from my mistakes. And I don’t like cheating — I want to win the right way.”

During one match, Singh even paused to help his opponent understand a move.

“I want them to have a fair chance,” he said.

Eighth‑grader June Hobson, competing in her first tournament, said the experience was both “educational” and encouraging.

“Even losing feels hopeful because you know you can do better next time,” she said. “Everyone’s really helpful. The first person I played against gave me advice, and I helped someone else with notation.”

A legacy event

The tournament was founded by brothers Roger and Troy Pugh, who modeled it after the tournament they played in as children in Lynden. One of their brothers, Ryan, who won the event three times, died in a car accident in 2001. The tournament is held in part to honor his memory, according to the Waypoint Foundation website.

“Our family got so much benefit from preparing for and playing in that tournament,” said Troy. “Starting one here felt like a great way to give back.”

He noted that the event has grown to the point that this year marked a new milestone: its first second‑generation participant, a child of someone who played in the tournament’s earliest years.

Troy said chess offers a rare opportunity for children who might not participate in traditional sports.

“Anybody can participate,” he said. “We have the full range — athletic kids, non‑athletic kids, every age. It’s something everyone can be part of.”

Students often walk away with more pride than disappointment, even after a loss, Troy said.

“You hear kids telling their parents, ‘I almost won,’ or ‘My moves got to the second side of the sheet,’” Troy said. “They find the positives.”

More than a game

Both organizers emphasized that the tournament’s value lies far beyond trophies or prize money.

“We’ll give away money today,” Roger said, “but the irony is it’s not about the money at all. It’s about having fun.”

Chess, they believe, teaches perseverance, foresight and humility in a way few other activities can.

“Life’s going to throw things at you all the time,” Roger said. “You’re going to win some and lose some. You have to not care. Keep going.”

As for next year, the Pughs encourage families to register early.

“Online registration has helped a lot,” Troy said. “This year we filled several weeks in advance and even added capacity, but we still had seven people on the waitlist.”

For the kids who spent their Saturday gathered around chessboards, the reason to return is simple.

“Just to have fun and learn a bunch,” Kashetich said.

Tournament results:

1: Christian V.

2: Emanuel S.

3: Bruce Y.

4: Tomothy P.

5: Ezekiel K.

6: Zachary P.

7: Grace N.

8: Daniel B.

9: Drew W.

10: Colton W.

    Amelia Kieha, 9, said she was proud of both her win and loss, saying she learned something from both games.
  

    Greyson Baty, right, and Daniel Babak, left, shake hands after their chess match Saturday morning.
  

    Rajaveer Singh, left, helps his opponent Abigail Santiago during their chess match Saturday. Singh said it doesn’t feel good to win an unevenly-matched game, so instead he helped the younger player so it was fair.