Many members of the Billings Central chess club have only had a few opportunities to play matches during the Refocus periods Central has had this year. On March 6, though, twelve students had the opportunity to compete and see who the ultimate chess champion is. Club president Jason Michalsky thought it was important to have a friendly competition for students. According to Michalsky, “Billings Central’s first chess tournament was created in order to bring together chess lovers, showcase strategic minds, and provide a competitive space for players to show off their skills.”
Tournament participants were focused on trying their hardest to advance to the next round. Participation in the tournament exceeded Michalsky’s expectations, “The tournament was successful in many ways. There were an exceptional number of participants that provided a high level of competion. The tournament was very enjoyable, which was another reason for its success,” he explained. After many intense matches, two students were left to see who the chess tournament champion would be. Juniors Dylan Shelton and Luke Pankratz were the skilled players who made it to the championship match. The two battled it out in an exceptional game, but in the end, Shelton came across victorious.
The chess tournament allowed students to make connections with their peers who also have a passion for chess, and, as Michalsky said, “My expectations were surpassed, and it brought to my attention the continual interest Central students have in chess.”
