The after-school chess clubs of Mt. Horeb School and Woodland School faced off in the inaugural Warren Township School District Interscholastic Chess Tournament on February 7, 2018. The event, a first of its kind in the school district was co-hosted by club facilitators Justin Guglielmino of Mt. Horeb School and PJ Jones of Woodland School.
The event drew 30 competitors and dozens of parent spectators to the Woodland School library. Students competed in timed, Blitz-style matches, eventually whittling down the competition to just two players.
With special guest Dean Ippolito, International Chess Master and proprietor of Branchburg’s Dean of Chess Academy, looking on, the two finalists battled it out. In the end the victory and the championship trophy went to Mt. Horeb’s Tyler Ren. Ethan Rajan of Woodland School took second place, and Mt. Horeb’s Alexander Maloney finished in third place. The trophies were donated by Crown Trophy in Greenbrook, New Jersey, which has been servicing Somerset, Union, and Middlesex counties for 20 years.
Both Guglielmino and Jones were very pleased how all the competitors demonstrated extraordinary chess etiquette, shaking hands before and after each match and congratulating the winners. “Chess is a game of wits and logic, but even more importantly it teaches kids respect, friendship and perseverance,” Jones said.
The next tournament will be scheduled before the end of the year.
(above, front row, left to right) Third Place, Alexander Maloney; Champion, Tyler Ren; Second Place, Ethan Rajan. (back row, left to right) Mt. Horeb club facilitator Justin Guglielmino; Woodland club facilitator PJ Jones.
(above, left to right) Woodland fourth grader Omar Mohallim contemplates his next move against Mt. Horeb’s Eddie Zhan.
