Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) held its annual fall chess tournament on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Thomas Stone High School. A total of 150 students participated in the event, which is open to any student in kindergarten through Grade 12.
The tournament follows a Swiss-style format in which each student plays four games. Students compete in eight grade-level divisions and trophies are given to division champions. Students who earn a top finisher award in their respective categories receive a medal, and all participants receive a performance certificate.
Felix Cummings served as the tournament director. The following students were recognized for placing in their division:
Kindergarten through First Grade
Second-Grade Division
Third-Grade Division
Fourth-Grade Division
Fifth-Grade Division
Sixth-Grade Division
Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Division
Ninth through 12th-Grade Division
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,400 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
The tournament follows a Swiss-style format in which each student plays four games. Students compete in eight grade-level divisions and trophies are given to division champions. Students who earn a top finisher award in their respective categories receive a medal, and all participants receive a performance certificate.
Felix Cummings served as the tournament director. The following students were recognized for placing in their division:
Kindergarten through First Grade
- Luke McDonald, first grade, T.C. Martin Elementary School, division champion
- Henry Blass, first grade, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School, top finisher
- Andrea Dudley, first grade, St. Mary’s Bryantown, top finisher
- Deven Dudley, kindergarten, St. Mary’s Bryantown, top finisher
- Derek Fletcher, first grade, Mary H. Matula Elementary School, top finisher
- Marshall Fletcher, first grade, Matula, top finisher
- Sophia McDonald, first grade, Martin, top finisher
Second-Grade Division
- Dayten Moore, private school, division champion
- Carlos Borders, William B. Wade Elementary School, top finisher
- Ashley Golder, Matula, top finisher
- Ujini Joshi, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School, top finisher
- Neha Mahato, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School, top finisher
- Justice Rodriguez, Wade, top finisher
- Uriah Seger, Indian Head Elementary School, top finisher
Third-Grade Division
- Orlando Rodriguez Jr., Wade, division champion
- Luke Barrett, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, top finisher
- Samuel Binsol, Wade, top finisher
- Gideon Romero, Dr. James Craik Elementary School, top finisher
- Lionel Saravia, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, top finisher
- Hrishi Soni, Matula, top finisher
- Caden States, Berry Elementary School, top finisher
Fourth-Grade Division
- James McDonald, Martin, division champion
- Andrew Cook, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, top finisher
- Aundre Dudley, St. Mary’s Bryantown, top finisher
- Gregory Fletcher, Matula, top finisher
- Kendal Johnson, Mary B. Neal Elementary School, top finisher
- Aurora Larkin, Billingsley Elementary School, top finisher
- Rowan Leonard, Higdon, top finisher
- JaKai Moore, Maryland International Day School, top finisher
Fifth-Grade Division
- Destiny Dudley, St. Mary’s Bryantown, division champion
- Christopher Ellison Jr., Craik, top finisher
- Julius Fowlkes, Billingsley, top finisher
- Zephaniah Greene, Wade, top finisher
- Jesse Hodgson, Matula, top finisher
- Sophia Hughes, Wade, top finisher
- Gregory Lavender, Wade, top finisher
- Ethan Phanthasy, Craik, top finisher
Sixth-Grade Division
- Nathanael Jean-Gilles, Theodore G. Davis Middle School, division champion
- Jacob Golder, Milton M. Somers Middle School, top finisher
- Nicholas Pankowski, Somers, top finisher
- Anthony Thwaites, Davis, top finisher
Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Division
- Timothy Martinez, seventh grade, Davis, division champion
- Cole Barrett, seventh grade, Piccowaxen Middle School, top finisher
- Nathan Carter, seventh grade, Somers, top finisher
- Alfred Johann Cruz, seventh grade, Mattawoman Middle School, top finisher
- Joseph Miller, eighth grade, Somers, top finisher
- Sean Robertson, seventh grade, Piccowaxen, top finisher
Ninth through 12th-Grade Division
- Joseph Papagno, junior, North Point High School, division champion
- Rahul Mahato, freshman, Stone, top finisher
- Andrew Miller, freshman, St. Charles High School, top finisher
- Jacob Miller, junior, St. Charles, top finisher
- Jacob Stern, junior, North Point, top finisher
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,400 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.