Chief Umtuch Middle School

Students who qualified for the Washington state Elementary Chess Championship

Students display chess moves in regional tournament

April 13, 2023

Thirty students participated in the recent Checkmates State Qualification Chess Tournament at Laurin Middle School. The late March tournament included players in fourth through eighth grades. Participants represented 10 schools.

Each participant played five rounds of chess. Students who received at least three points qualified for the Washington state Elementary Chess Championship that will be held in Tacoma, Washington, on April 29.

Congratulations to all the players and their advisers!

Jack Sears, Chief Umtuch Middle School

Nine Battle Ground students qualified for the state chess tournament:

• Jack Sears, Chief Umtuch Middle School
• Caleb Vavilin, CAM Academy
• Lou Kissinger, River HomeLink
• Antonio Gahan, CAM Academy
• Amad Mulalic, Laurin Middle School
• Dylan Wilkinson, River HomeLink
• Stepfon Kephart, River HomeLink
• Rex Wing, Tukes Valley Middle School
• Dylan Durfey, Laurin Middle School

Overall results

• First place: Jack Sears, Chief Umtuch Middle School
• Second place: Caleb Vavilin, CAM Academy
• Third place: Lou Kissinger, River HomeLink

Team results

• First: River HomeLink
• Second: Holy Family
• Third: CAM Academy
• Fourth: Laurin Middle School

Fourth/fifth grade bracket

• First place: Amad Mulalic, Laurin Middle School
• Second place: Dylan Durfey, Laurin Middle School
• Third place: Bennett Forrester, River HomeLink

Sixth grade bracket

• First place: Gabriel Carr, Harrison
• Second place: Rex Wing, Tukes Valley Middle School
• Third place: Connor Grail, Tukes Valley Middle School

Seventh grade bracket

• First place: Caleb Vavilin, CAM Academy
• Second place: Lou Kissinger, River HomeLink
• Third place: David Gorlachev, home school

Eighth grade bracket

• First place: Jack Sears, Chief Umtuch Middle School
• Second place: Antonio Gahan, CAM Academy
• Third place: Austin Kimani, Holy Family

The tournament was organized by the Laurin Middle School Parent/Teacher Organization.