Winners of the Morgan County Chess Tournament were, from left, second place Chandler Day, first place Jordan Wallace, third place Connor Sims, highest points Hannah Stidham and fourth place Jenna Chaney. | Special to the Enquirer

Middle school students from all around the Morgan County School system participated in the Morgan County Fall Chess Tournament Nov. 6 at Cotaco Junior High School.

This biannual tournament included 154 students playing in eight ten-minute rounds of chess. First through fourth place contestants and the contestant scoring the highest receive a trophy.

After a student loses a round of play, they play for points, seeing who can capture the most valuable pieces.

This year’s winners were first place Danville eighth grader Jordan Wallace, second place Cotaco eighth grader Chandler Day, third place Cotaco eighth grader Connor Sims, fourth place Priceville sixth grader Jenna Chaney and highest points Danville eighth grader Hannah Stidham.

Cotaco’s gifted specialist Paula Kiggins said the tournament teaches the students not only strategy, but also a valuable lesson in winning and losing.

“Some of them lose in the first round, but they have to stay positive and keep trying their best for points,” Kiggins said. “There’s a different strategy when they play to capture the king and when they play for points. It also teaches them how to be good competitors who don’t cheat. We make them raise their hand if they think they have check or checkmate and we confirm it so they opponent is aware and it can be as fair as possible.”

This tournament has been a part of MCS for the past 10 years. Tournament coordinator Cristal Owens of Danville said most students really look forward to the competition.

“This is the best of the best of each school’s chess players, so this is really a quality tournament,” Owens said. “More than one student gets emotional each year. Several students get upset when they realize they have to wait until the March tournament to try again.”

Each of the nine schools in attendance hold a playoff system to determine the top 20 chess players who will compete in the county tournament. Owens said the students are chosen from fifth through eight graders in gifted programs or those who show a special interest in chess.

“Chess is not something we always have time to teach them in-depth and no school has a specific chess class, but it’s something we try to encourage in our students,” Kiggins said. “We try to teach them that chess is a gentleman’s strategy game, we often allow time at the end of class or activities for them to play. “

Cotaco will also host their biannual scholar’s bowl competition Nov. 20 with several teams of four sixth through eighth graders answering general knowledge questions.

Morgan County’s Talented and Gifted teachers are Paula Kiggins at Cotaco Junior High, Max Parker at Lacey’s Spring and Union Hill, Julia James at Eva and Sparkman, Carrie Aultman at Priceville Elementary, Mica Rabb at West Morgan and Priceville Junior High, Melissa Parker at Danville and Cristal Owens at Falkville. Sherri Mann is the gifted coordinator at the central office.