Century Sophomore is State Chess Co-Champion

A Rochester high school student was among the six “co-champions” of the Minnesota State Chess Association K-12 Scholastic Chess Tournament held last weekend at St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul.  Century Sophomore Maor Leker Locker and the five other players were each awarded five points during the six rounds of the tournament, which attracted over 250 entrants representing 28 high schools.

Over a dozen students from the Rochester Area Scholastic Chess League participated in the tournament.   A team comprised of students from the Willow Creek newcomers program placed 7th overall of 31 teams in the K-9 division.  Richard Huang a Kellogg Middle School eighth grader placed 8th overall of over 100 students in the K-9 division.

In the K-12 division the John Marshall HS team placed 9th.  The Century HS team combine their points to 14.5 which placed them fifth.  This is a leap from Century’s 14th place finish in 2013 and is its highest since a 4th place finish in 2007.

The six “co-champions” will meet in two weeks for another round of chess in an effort to determine a clear-cut winner to represent Minnesota in the US Chess Federation “Tournament of Champions” at Orlando, Florida in August.

Source:  Chuck Handlon, Secretary of the Rochester Area Scholastic Chess League