Last weekend Peoria played host to the State Grade School Chess Championships. I was lucky enough to direct the floor play for the Junior High School section.

Local chess promoter Mike Leali always puts on a great tournament and this one was no different. There were about 660 students from 40 or so different schools in attendance and he had activities arranged so that they all went home exhausted from the cornucopia of events.

Sponsors like Hershey's Chocolate had samples available, newly annointed local USCF Master Pete Karaganis gave simultaneous exhibitions, two Gandmasters showed up, there were chess books, equipment & t-shirts to buy and a great time was had by all.

-Murrel Rhodes