STATE COLLEGE — The State College Area School District held its district-wide chess tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 20, marking the 20th anniversary of the event.
The annual chess tournament began in 2004 after a State High sophomore, Emily Chu, attended the World Open chess tournament in Philadelphia and fell in love with the tournament concept.
“She got to see grandmasters from all over the world, and she herself was playing in the tournament. It was such an enriching experience,” Fang-Mei Chu, Emily’s mother, recalled. “So, on our way home, she told me, ‘Oh, this is so wonderful, every kid deserves the opportunity to go to a tournament like this.’ I told her I agreed, but that not every family can afford it.”
That’s when Emily knew she needed to bring a chess tournament to the region.
Once her 10th-grade year started, Emily went to her Learning Enrichment teacher, Shirley Donovan, with her ambitions to start a district-wide chess tournament.
“Mrs. Donovan supported the idea so much. I was lucky to have her for that because I had no idea how or who to reach out to to get started,” Emily said.
Emily explained that John Sheridan, who was the director of Learning Enrichment for State College Area School District at the time, helped make all the necessary connections to the middle schools and the elementary schools to get everyone involved in the event. Additionally, Jim Robinson, State High’s Chess Club advisor, assisted Emily in getting the tournament started. Robinson continued to lead the annual tournament and is retiring after this year.
Since graduating from State High in 2006 and becoming an educator herself, Emily has been a fundamental part of the competition.
The chess tournament that took place on Feb. 20 was not only a competition for students but also a celebration of the tournament’s 20 years. To commemorate the anniversary, Emily invited back the now-retired Donovan and Sheridan to honor and thank them alongside Robinson and Sheila Abruzzo, a current Gifted Support and Learning Enrichment faculty member who has helped the annual chess tournament continue to thrive after two decades. The four were each presented with a specially designed card, signed by all the students in attendance at the tournament.
“It’s just a beautiful thing. I love chess — I always have,” Robinson commented.
Robinson has been teaching for 34 years and took over as the advisor for the Chess Club at State High around 1999. With this being his last SCASD chess tournament before retiring, Robinson has been able to witness firsthand how beneficial this activity can be for students.
“Chess teaches critical thinking. It teaches you to think about the move you’re going to make and what might happen in return for that. It teaches you to think ahead too, more than one step at a time,” Robinson explained. “Making life decisions is very much like that. Thinking ahead and learning from your mistakes.”
As for the students, this yearly tournament has become an event to look forward to and get excited about. Open to all grade levels throughout State College Area School District, the tournament has helped dozens of students in the district discover a love and passion for the game.
The students play against one another for several intense rounds until a winner is crowned for elementary, middle and high school students.
“I never played chess before,” said Tanner, a student at Gray’s Woods Elementary School. “But I got interested in it because I got to try something new and because I don’t really do much at home.”
Two decades after the tournament’s beginning, Emily’s passion for the game continues through all the students who participate in the tournament year after year.
“Seeing other kids share the same experience as me has been really meaningful,” Emily said. “Knowing that not every family could afford something like the World Open chess tournament, it was meaningful to know they would be able to have this experience.”
The tournament will continue with the help of passionate students, State College Area School District faculty and members of the community.
As the chess tournament embarks on its next chapter, a few things remain certain: the spirit of competition, camaraderie and community will keep influencing everyone involved, ensuring that the chess tournament stays a beloved tradition for years to come.
CORRECTION: In the story “Chess tournament marks 20th anniversary,” Which ran on March 7, 2024, it was reported Emily Chu returned every year to help out with the chess tournament, however, Chu was not able to return while away at college and came back this year specifically to recognize teachers and faculty who helped start the tournament.
