A hand paused over the white knight, then withdrew. The teenage boy who controlled the piece rested his chin on his curled fingers and sighed.
Chess isn’t much of a spectator sport unless you know the game. But for those who do, Burlington-Edison High School was the place to be Friday night. For the first time, the school hosted the Washington High School Chess Association State Championships.
Some 240 of the state’s best high school players converged on the school cafeteria. When the first match started a little past 4:45 p.m., the room was nearly silent — save for the taps of players moving their pieces, followed by the light click of fingers on the time clock.
In a surprise win during the first round, a second-ranked Burlington-Edison player beat a first-ranked Skyline player. Burlington-Edison’s David Lemme moved up when his team’s top player could not attend and defeated Zach Oseran.
Mark Rathvon, 15, of Sedro-Woolley lost his first match against a player from Garfield High School in Seattle, which placed second at last year’s tournament.
“You don’t play to win,” Rathvon said. “You play to learn instead.”
Players were allotted 60 minutes each for their moves in the first round. In subsequent rounds, players get 90 minutes. But Shorecrest, which placed ninth last year, was penalized 46 minutes in its first match for being 46 minutes late. As a result, each of its five players had just 14 minutes for moves.
Shorecrest’s Kippy Gascoigne, 15, ended his game in a stalemate. He said since he had so little time to think about moves, he was shooting for equal piece exchanges throughout the match.
“It was tougher than usual,” he said, “but since I’m moving quickly, my opponent is also moving quickly. ... They don’t want me to think during their time.”
He said his teammates were happy they could play at all.
“We didn’t want to drive an hour back for nothing,” Gascoigne said.
In all, players completed two rounds Friday night and will play three more today. Teams in subsequent rounds play teams with similar records, said Stacy Murdock, Burlington-Edison’s chess club advisor. By the end of the tournament, the top two teams usually end up playing each other.
Twenty-eight schools made the trip, compared with 38 last year. Several teams from Eastern Washington did not attempt to traverse the snowed-in mountain passes.
Mount Vernon, one of the area teams scheduled to compete, arrived late Friday and didn’t get to participate in the first two rounds. Tournament officials will decide whether Mount Vernon can compete today.
* Kate Martin can be reached at 360-416-2145 or at .
State’s best gather at B-EHS for first round of championships
Frank Varga
Sedro-Woolley’s Timothy Spitzer, 16, concentrates on his next move Friday against his opponent from Garfield.
Additional Images:
This article has been viewed 53 times
Previous Story• Car ferry service returns to Keystone run |
Next Story• Obama wins big in Washington state |
More Local News
Top Jobs
LABORER POSITIONS Available. TOP PAY. Must have some construction exp. Wages DOE. Drug-free workplace.…
Full Time Yard Person at local lumber yard. Come in person to get an application at 815 Roosevelt Ave.…
Ranch Hand/ Kennel Assistant: Feeding, cleaning, entertaining dogs, cats, horses & customers. 422-7644…
F/T EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Exec. Sec. to company Boards. Evening meetings, $18-$20/hr. DOE with benefits…
MYSTERY SHOPPER'S Earn up to $150 per day, undercover shopper's needed to judge retail and dining establishments.…
Receptionist for oral and maxillofacial surgery office. Close team work. Approx. 40 hr wk. Exp. preferred.…
Exp. Dump Truck Driver Wage DOE, full benefit pkg. avail. (360) 293-1266
The Skagit Valley Herald is now hiring for: OUTSIDE ADVERTISING SALES Join our dynamic Outside Sales…
Grade Hop with construction staking and GPS exp for earthwork/utility contractor doing work in Snohomish,…
Mount Vernon ATTENTION: Skagit Valley Herald newspaper carriers wanted: MOUNT VERNON The Skagit Valley…
Electricians wanted. Commercial journeyman & exp. apprentices. Seattle & Burlington area. Fax resume…
Looking for someone with POWDERCOATING experience. Will train the right person. 360-428-0413
IDEAL POSITION FOR OUTGOING FNP Fun office, great staff - we're growing! Rewarding full scope practice…
Retail LaConner Shirts. Life is good. Fri/Sat/Sun, 10-6 dneedham@cnw.com 360-466-5101
Exp. Chemical Professional with current license. Full-time, long term, IOP. Great wage and benefits.…
2 GOLF CART POSITIONS at Eaglemont Golf Course. Apply in person at the - Pro-Shop, 4127 Eaglemont Dr.,…
SERVER/ KITCHEN HELP PT. Apply in person at Cap Sante Court Retirement, 1111 32nd St, Anacortes 293-8088…
Exp'd. Plasterer/ Lathe/ Stucco worker. Pay $18-$30 DOE. Call (360)223-2327.
The Olive Garden Italian Restaurant is now hiring SERVERS Apply between 2-4pm Mon. - Fri. for open interviews,…
WAREHOUSE CLERK F/T position, 40 hours per week, weekdays 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with some variance possible.…
EXP. HVAC Apprentice Full benefit package, wage DOE. Call to apply - Right Way Plumbing, Heating, AC,…
Medical office in Anacortes has two positions open. F/T CLERICAL position requires computer skills and…
WANTED!!!! We are growing & building a new store. If you are high energy, excitable & want to join a…
JANITOR needed for Fri. and/or Sunday. Call 360-428-5858
TABLE GAMES DEALERS Exc. benefits, for more info visit www.swinomishcasino.com & click on Employment.…
CAREGIVERS NEEDED! PT NAC/NAR with current CPR and First Aid. Mental health and dementia training a plus.…
Dominos Pizza Drivers Wanted. Get cash every shift. 18 or older. Apply in person 1600 E. College Way.…
LA CONNER RETIREMENT INN is seeking full time dependable CAREGIVERS to assist our residents with medication…
OPTICIAN/ MANAGER Exc. career opportunity. Manage newly remodeled dispensary for busy ophthalmology practice…
BOOKEEPER Full charge, experience with G/L, payroll, inventory, man- ufacturing. Email resume to: info@padgettcpa.com…
SERVICE DRIVER/ BUNDLE HAULER Part-Time Part-time Service Driver/ Bundle Driver needed. 20+ hours a week.…
EXP. AUTO TECH ASE cert. Foreign & Domestic. Busy shop. Fax resume: 360-755-0318 or call 360-661-7261…
Yacht Detailers needed. Fiberglass repair, buffing, waxing and detailing. Please call: 360-631-7127
SALES EXPERIENCE A MUST, AUTO SALES A PLUS! We need 2 motivated enthusiastic individuals. Opportunity…
P/T DELIVERY Flexible hrs. 3 days a wk + Sat. Must have valid driver's lic. Contact Rob at Sherwin-Williams.…
Mount Vernon ATTENTION: Skagit Valley Herald newspaper carriers wanted: MOUNT VERNON The Skagit Valley…
Weatherization & Repair Technician F/T, 8-5:30 Mon-Thurs. Great Benefits. Work as part of team using…
Certified Nurses Aides Burton Care Center is a small, home-like facility where we all work together to…
LATITUDE MARINE SERVICES, LLC LA CONNER ALUMINUM - Welders - Fabricators - Weld/Fab Supervisors -General…
PROPERTY MANAGER Oversight of private estate in San Juans. BA & 8+ yrs. property mgt. exp. req'd or equivalent…
RIVERSIDE LANES Now hiring Janitorial Front Desk. Must be available some weekends, 24-30 hrs. per wk.…
This FT warehousing position has excellent growth opportunities. Ag/4H/FFA background and interest in…
Full Time Yard Person at local lumber yard. Come in person to get an application at 815 Roosevelt Ave.…
Ranch Hand/ Kennel Assistant: Feeding, cleaning, entertaining dogs, cats, horses & customers. 422-7644…
F/T EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Exec. Sec. to company Boards. Evening meetings, $18-$20/hr. DOE with benefits…
MYSTERY SHOPPER'S Earn up to $150 per day, undercover shopper's needed to judge retail and dining establishments.…
Receptionist for oral and maxillofacial surgery office. Close team work. Approx. 40 hr wk. Exp. preferred.…
Exp. Dump Truck Driver Wage DOE, full benefit pkg. avail. (360) 293-1266
The Skagit Valley Herald is now hiring for: OUTSIDE ADVERTISING SALES Join our dynamic Outside Sales…
Grade Hop with construction staking and GPS exp for earthwork/utility contractor doing work in Snohomish,…
Mount Vernon ATTENTION: Skagit Valley Herald newspaper carriers wanted: MOUNT VERNON The Skagit Valley…
Electricians wanted. Commercial journeyman & exp. apprentices. Seattle & Burlington area. Fax resume…
Looking for someone with POWDERCOATING experience. Will train the right person. 360-428-0413
IDEAL POSITION FOR OUTGOING FNP Fun office, great staff - we're growing! Rewarding full scope practice…
Retail LaConner Shirts. Life is good. Fri/Sat/Sun, 10-6 dneedham@cnw.com 360-466-5101
Exp. Chemical Professional with current license. Full-time, long term, IOP. Great wage and benefits.…
2 GOLF CART POSITIONS at Eaglemont Golf Course. Apply in person at the - Pro-Shop, 4127 Eaglemont Dr.,…
SERVER/ KITCHEN HELP PT. Apply in person at Cap Sante Court Retirement, 1111 32nd St, Anacortes 293-8088…
Exp'd. Plasterer/ Lathe/ Stucco worker. Pay $18-$30 DOE. Call (360)223-2327.
The Olive Garden Italian Restaurant is now hiring SERVERS Apply between 2-4pm Mon. - Fri. for open interviews,…
WAREHOUSE CLERK F/T position, 40 hours per week, weekdays 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with some variance possible.…
EXP. HVAC Apprentice Full benefit package, wage DOE. Call to apply - Right Way Plumbing, Heating, AC,…
Medical office in Anacortes has two positions open. F/T CLERICAL position requires computer skills and…
WANTED!!!! We are growing & building a new store. If you are high energy, excitable & want to join a…
JANITOR needed for Fri. and/or Sunday. Call 360-428-5858
TABLE GAMES DEALERS Exc. benefits, for more info visit www.swinomishcasino.com & click on Employment.…
CAREGIVERS NEEDED! PT NAC/NAR with current CPR and First Aid. Mental health and dementia training a plus.…
Dominos Pizza Drivers Wanted. Get cash every shift. 18 or older. Apply in person 1600 E. College Way.…
LA CONNER RETIREMENT INN is seeking full time dependable CAREGIVERS to assist our residents with medication…
OPTICIAN/ MANAGER Exc. career opportunity. Manage newly remodeled dispensary for busy ophthalmology practice…
BOOKEEPER Full charge, experience with G/L, payroll, inventory, man- ufacturing. Email resume to: info@padgettcpa.com…
SERVICE DRIVER/ BUNDLE HAULER Part-Time Part-time Service Driver/ Bundle Driver needed. 20+ hours a week.…
EXP. AUTO TECH ASE cert. Foreign & Domestic. Busy shop. Fax resume: 360-755-0318 or call 360-661-7261…
Yacht Detailers needed. Fiberglass repair, buffing, waxing and detailing. Please call: 360-631-7127
SALES EXPERIENCE A MUST, AUTO SALES A PLUS! We need 2 motivated enthusiastic individuals. Opportunity…
P/T DELIVERY Flexible hrs. 3 days a wk + Sat. Must have valid driver's lic. Contact Rob at Sherwin-Williams.…
Mount Vernon ATTENTION: Skagit Valley Herald newspaper carriers wanted: MOUNT VERNON The Skagit Valley…
Weatherization & Repair Technician F/T, 8-5:30 Mon-Thurs. Great Benefits. Work as part of team using…
Certified Nurses Aides Burton Care Center is a small, home-like facility where we all work together to…
LATITUDE MARINE SERVICES, LLC LA CONNER ALUMINUM - Welders - Fabricators - Weld/Fab Supervisors -General…
PROPERTY MANAGER Oversight of private estate in San Juans. BA & 8+ yrs. property mgt. exp. req'd or equivalent…
RIVERSIDE LANES Now hiring Janitorial Front Desk. Must be available some weekends, 24-30 hrs. per wk.…
This FT warehousing position has excellent growth opportunities. Ag/4H/FFA background and interest in…
