Elyria Youth Chess Club will compete Dec. 7 at Westlake High School
- Amber Davis
- Dec 7, 2024
- 2 min read
(Elyria Mayor Kevin Brubaker, right, and Elyria City Councilman Brad Armstrong shake hands after chess match during Elyria Youth Chess Club session.)
27830 Hilliard Blvd., in the Greater Cleveland Scholastic Chess League tournament.
Elyria Mayor Kevin Brubaker, right, and Elyria City Councilman Brad Armstrong, seated left, with members of the Elyria Youth Chess Club.
The Elyria Youth Chess Club will compete Dec. 7 at Westlake High School, 27830 Hilliard Blvd., in the Greater Cleveland Scholastic Chess League tournament.
The Elyria Youth Chess Club, a division of the Elyria Youth Sports Club, got its start in 2022.
Shanton Bland, president of the Elyria Youth Chess Club, said he wanted to teach and provide chess to the Elyria community.
“What we want to do is provide the kids with a skill set of critical thinking, strategic thinking and being able to see patterns and to think before they act,” Bland said. “Chess provides that type of framework.”
The Elyria Youth Chess Club holds classes or competitive sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Elyria Public Library System South Branch, 340 15th St.
“We have competitive sessions where they play each other, or class sessions where they learn strategies and patterns and things to look out for,” Bland said.
The attendees range in ages from 8-15, he said.
The turnout for each session has increased, Bland said.
“Once you learn the game of chess and figure it out, it can become addicting,” he said. “I play the kids, too, and sometimes they beat me.”
At the end of the tournament, there will be $1,500 in college scholarship money awarded.
The winners will be determined by adding the scores from each player’s best three events.
First place will receive $1,000, and second place will net $500.
Bland said 10 Elyria Youth Chess Club members likely will participate in the tournament.
“There’s some kids I anticipate will do well,” he said. “I think a lot of those kids have potential.”
Elyria Mayor Kevin Brubaker and Elyria City Councilman Brad Armstrong recently visited one of the chess club sessions to lend their support to the members.
Bland said he is hopeful for the future and expects more members to join.
“It’s catching on and people are starting to hear about it, which is a good thing,” he said.
For more information and to register for chess sessions, visit www.elyriayouthsportsclub. com
Source: Morning Journal
Elyria Youth Chess Club to compete at Greater Cleveland Scholastic Chess League tournament
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