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News Feature

The Island
Originally published in Island Ad-Vantages, February 21, 2013
Deer Isle student crowned chess co-champion

by Dick Powell

On Saturday, March 9, girls from all over Maine disputed the 2013 Maine Scholastic Chess Championship at the University of Maine at Orono. When the dust had settled, seventh-grader SooZin Cha of Deer Isle emerged as co-champion together with Claudia Serban, a seventh-grader from Bath.

Both Serban and Cha won their first three matches, and, playing head-to-head in the final round after an hour’s play with equally good position, they decided on a draw making them co-champs for 2013. Cha with a higher rating in tie-breaks was awarded the first place trophy.

Cha defeated Sarah Richards of Guilford in round one, Olympia Serban (Claudia’s older sister) in round two, and then upset teammate Orly Vaughn in round three. (Vaughn finished fifth with a 2-2 record.)

Cha is the second Deer Isle-Stonington girl to win this state title. Bethany Humphrey won it in 2011. Fourth-grader Rylee Eaton played well for DI-S finishing 2-2 with loses to much older opponents.

In final high school chess action February 28th at GSA, the Mariners bested GSA 12-2 and Bucksport 10-2. Cameron Wendell, Andy Turner, Hayden Ciomei, Nathan Davis, Nick Dunham and Noah Gillen were all 2-0 against GSA. Chelsea Brown, Krisford Melanio, Nick Eaton, and Cody Eaton all were 2-0 vs. the Golden Bucks. Connor Morey and Noah Davis were both 1-1 to complete the scoring.

All classes (K-3, K-6, K-8 and K-12) will be taking part in the Maine Scholastic Chess team championships at UMO Saturday, March 9. In 2012, DI-S took three firsts and a second in the states.

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