MADISON – Madison City Chess League hosted its second annual Chess Team Cup Championship recently at Mill Creek Elementary School.

This series allows four-person teams from each Madison elementary, middle and high school to compete against each other. “The series of matches was non-rated and offered students a rare opportunity to practice in four-person teams with match-point scoring just like the State Scholastic Chess Championship,” MCCL Executive Director Ranae Bartlett said.

The organizer and tournament directors volunteered their time, so contestants did not pay a registration fee. MCCL membership was required.

The Varsity section involved some of MCCL’s highest rated teams in middle and high school. Three teams each competed from Liberty and Discovery middle schools and Bob Jones High School, while James Clemens High School had one. “This is a testament to the growing strength of our chess program in Madison,” Bartlett said.

Liberty Middle School won in 2016.

For the first time, the Varsity four-round match was played during the Queen’s Quest elementary chess tournament at Mill Creek on Nov. 18. “Having 10 teams in Madison compete for the Team Cup was quite an accomplishment. We hope that number will continue to grow each year,” Bartlett said.

After two rounds, only two teams remained undefeated with two wins: Liberty Black Team with Om Badhe, Will Fox, Shreya Sunil and Ethan Xu, and Bob Jones Blue team with Michael Guthrie, Josh Lin, Hayden Billmann and Will Bao.

The two first-boards, Badhe and Guthrie, ended with a draw. They both were rated in the upper 1800s and have played competitive chess since elementary school. Other Bob Jones members won their games to secure the 2018 Team Cup.

Madison City Schools Superintendent Robby Parker visited to witness this match-up of the two highest rated teams. “He was impressed with the level of concentration our students demonstrated,” Bartlett said.

All Madison elementaries registered teams for a Primary (K-3) or Elementary (K-6) section. Rainbow and Mill Creek registered all-female teams.

In Elementary, Rainbow Blue team achieved a perfect team score (5 points) to win first place among 11 competitors. Columbia earned second place (3.5). Heritage and Rainbow Green tied for third (3 each). All-female teams from Mill Creek and Rainbow Pink tied.

In Primary (K-3), 10 teams competed. Mill Creek, Madison, Columbia and Heritage entered one four-person team. Horizon entered two teams; Rainbow entered four.

Rainbow Red team won all four games, achieving four team points and winning first place. Mill Creek, Rainbow Orange team and Madison each achieved three points and tied for second place.