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Three head to chess national finalsBy Barbara Brown The game of kings is a challenge of strategy and stamina and several area youths faced off Sunday to prove their skills in the game. Chess has been around for centuries and 12 area youths had a chance to earn a scholarship for their talent at playing. AmericInn in North Branch hosted the local section of the national chains annual chess competition. The hotel, along with all other AmericInn hotels in the country, will host one of eight competition days in November to select three top players from each hotelís area. Three young men from around the North Branch area will compete in the AmericInn national finals in St. Paul sometime in February. Forest Lakeís Tony Schlaeger took the top prize. Coming in second was Ryan Wicklund, 14, of Cambridge. Wicklund said he started playing chess when he was about nine years old. He said last weekendís AmericInn contest was the first time heíd entered. Snell started playing chess just a few years ago and already has found a passion for it. His father, Jim Snell,, said he had little to do with his sonís interest in the game. ìLuke is the one who is serious about it,î Jim Snell said. ìItís a war,î he said regarding possible reasons his son enjoys the game. ìThereís a strategy to it that seems to appeal to men.î Although this was Snellís first year competing in the AmericInn contest, he had appeared three times in a community tournament in St. Cloud. Katie Bowen, 13, of Rush City said she first got started in chess because it was, simply, something to do. ìIím not very good at sports,î Bowen said. ìThis lets me participate in something fun.î Bowen said she started to play about five years ago and is ready to join the United States Chess Federation, the official rating organization for chess players. Before the tournament started at 11 a.m., several players were already in the competition area tweaking their attack plans. Alex Berger, 11, practiced with his step-dad Todd Tetzlaff, trying to get just the right moves down before the tournament heated up. ìThis game is good because it makes you think a lot,î Berger said. ìI play with my dad at home and my step-dad, too. Itís good to have the game for competition.î Dwight Wilcox was clearly perplexed by the predicaments he was put in my his son Tyler Wilcox, 13, of Forest Lake, during their practice round. The game has become somewhat of a family tradition ñ and competition. Dwight Wilcoxís grandfather taught him and Dwight his own son. The family has even developed a traveling trophy to go along with the bragging rights of being best in the family. ìI like this game because itís all about strategy,î Tyler Wilcox said. Dwight Wilcox contested that statement. ìHe really likes it because he can beat me.î Tournament director Tonie Meiners, of Finlayson, said more than 120 players will meet in St. Paul for the national finals. They will be competing for $13,500 in scholarship prizes to help pay for post-secondary education or training, she said. Chris Plunkett, Meiners husband, helped organize and manage the tournament. He said he and his family have been involved in tournaments for the past 20 years since their children were in kindergarten. ìItís competitive,î Plunkett assured. ìThis is serious business. It symbolizes life and death.î Plunkett said the game has endured for so long because of its simplicity. ©ECM Post Review |