The chess club at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School performed well at the 2023 Florida Scholastic Chess League’s National Chess Day Tournament on Oct. 14.
Fifth grader Ethan Byder won a 2nd place trophy and two teams won their sections, the school said.
OLL competed against other schools in the tournament held at Hialeah Gardens Senior High School.
Club moderator Dominick Cama said the game teaches children to think logically and creatively when devising winning theories.
Co-moderator Fanny Medina and parent/coaches Ivan Santiago and Jannelyn Elies also support the club.
In the first photo: Fifth grader Ethan Byder won the 2nd place trophy in the K-5 section of competition.
The group photo shows the K-3 Team which took home a 5th place trophy. From left in front are Leyla deMota; Isabella Elies; Everly Suarez; Andrew Escoto; Sebastien Rodriguez and Allison Suarez. Back row from left are Parent/Coach Jannelyn Elies; Elizabeth Tejada, Florida Scholastic Chess League commissioner; Sergio Cordova (behind the trophy) and Liam Baker. Not shown: Juliette Sosa, Adrian Calero, Antonio Calero and Marcelo Buitrago.
Other trophy winners were Jose Mora; Isabella Elies; Milan Tamaya; Leyla de Mota and David Guillen, who won 3rd place in the K-1 section, the school said.
Photos courtesy of the school.