 |
| Cedric C., the 2017 Chess Champion |
Chess is a popular winter pastime at IHMS when students are looking for a quiet activity to do during indoor recesses. Appropriately, the chess club begins in January and runs until March or April. Students who wish to participate sign up, and after a schedule is created, play against other students from their own grade. Everyone is responsible for arranging their own games and recording the outcome of those games.
 |
Students are given about 2 months to challenge and play other students in their class. On the day of the deadline (usually the beginning of March), the person from each class with the most wins is declared the “classroom champion”, and is scheduled to participate in the playoffs. This year, there were 5 classroom champions from grades 4 to 8. They were: |
| . |
|
 |
| Classroom champions (l-r): Nicholas W., Julian B., Nikita K., Cedric C., and Dennis D. |
These classroom champions played a series of games against each other in order to progressively narrow down the competition. A playoff schedule was created and within a few weeks the first two competitors were eliminated – Julian B. (grade 5) and Nikita K. (grade 7). About a week later, after some very intense play, Nicholas W. was also eliminated. But he didn’t go down without a fight! All three of these classroom champions played intelligent and strategic games, and it was sad to see them eliminated. They did a exemplary job representing their respective classrooms and should be very proud of their achievements.
 |
The two remaining players, Cedric C. and Dennis D. moved on to the final round of play. The first player to win 3 out of 5 games would be crowned the chess champion for 2017. |
 |
| Cedric and Dennis playing their first game in the chess finals |
In the final round of play, Cedric had several advantages over Dennis. First of all, he had the advantage of experience because he competed in last year’s chess finals and placed second overall. In addition, Cedric, a grade 8 student, was four years older than Dennis, a grade 4 student.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The final game, which was also the closest game of the finals. Dennis was under a lot of pressure to pull off a win, but in the end Cedric was unstoppable! The emotions of the final game are highlighted in the above sequence of photos. |
| Unlike the tension and excitement of last year, this year’s chess finals turned out to be a blowout! Despite a valiant effort by Dennis and a few very close games, Cedric was unstoppable. He was clearly the stronger player, easily winning 3 straight matches and emerging as the IHMS Chess Champion for 2017! |  |
 |
| Cedric C., the 2017 IHMS Chess Champion |
 |
2017 Chess Club final standings
|