GRADE LEVEL MADNESS!

Hi Everyone,

Saturday's tournament is at The Marian Center located at 3195 S. Superior Street in St. Francis. We have retained the same team room as last year. It's on the second floor, room number 223.

We will be taking $3.00 donations for each child participating to help pay for the team room rental. The team room is a suite of four rooms, so we should have plenty of room. Please arrive by 8 a.m.

The pairings for the first round will be prepared Friday night and should be posted when we arrive on Saturday. The kids need to be at their boards by 8:30 for the opening ceremony and the first round will follow. This is earlier than usual.

This is a five round event. There are set times for each round with the final round beginning at 2:15 and awards to follow. We have thirteen students participating on Saturday. Two second graders, three third graders and eight fourth graders. There will be five individual trophies and four team trophies for each grade level. Team scores will consist of the top three scorers on each team. If you can recruit any more second or third grade players it would give us a better chance to finish in the trophies. Parents will be allowed to sit in the mezzanine area above the playing floor to watch the games. Parents are not allowed to communicate with their child or anyone on the playing floor while games are in progress. Students are not allowed in the upper area.

Please make sure your kids know that they are not to run in the halls or in the stairwells. When their game is finished they must leave the playing area immediately and return to the team room. If you are bringing any snacks or lunch, please remember no peanut or nut products. Because of food allergies, we ask that you have your children wash their hands after eating before using the chess sets in our team room. We ask that all food and drinks be kept in a designated area and not on the tables with the chess sets. We will see you bright and early on Saturday!

Pam Reese
Mill Valley Chess Club

Mill Valley Takes Second

Tough K-6 group last week at Messmer!

Mill Valley's fourth-grade Knights took 17.5 points to take 2nd place to the very tough Magellan Day school. Magellan put up 6th graders Veech, Zimmerman, and Schneider, and 5th grader Rokni, and took 19.0 points to take the first place trophy. 2nd place has not happened very often to Mill Valley in K5 or K6- congratulations Magellan, you played us TOUGH!

Gregory and Evan took 4.5 points to take 3rd and 4th in tiebreakers, Reid took 7th, Brian 9th, Kolt 14th and Chris 23rd.

Still, a very good showing at a tough tournament. Up Next- Grade Level!

Evan beats 1656-rated Player in Waukesha

Messmer High School - up next!

Hi Mill Valley Chess Families,

On Saturday we will be attending a tournament at Messmer High School located at 724 W. Capitol Drive in Milwaukee. There will be both K-3 and K-6 divisions. Both sections will have three team trophies, three individual trophies and medals to all.

Messmer High School is right on I-43 and Capitol Drive. There are easy on, easy off ramps right there.

The registration fee is $10 and is paid on Saturday. Please arrive by 8:30. If you are bringing your own snacks or lunch, please remember no peanut or nut products please. Awards will be around 4:30. I have attached a flyer with all the details. If you plan to attend, please let us know by 8 p.m. on Thursday evening and we will take care of the registration.

Hope to see you Saturday!
Pam Reese
Mill Valley Chess Club

Pictures: Elmwood

Here are some pictures from the Elmwood School tournament (thanks once again to Glynis Grochowski, our Team Photographer)...


Our K-5 Team did it Again! Jason really helped!


K-3 was super awesome, what else can you say???

Gregory and Evan know where this one is heading again...


Guess how many wins Reid had?


Rachel gives the universal sign that all is well at Mill Valley...


Two thumbs up for Jorin's performance!


Still more thumbs up for our K3 team (we would be great hitchhikers!)


Hey! Kolt has a thumb too!


K3 Powerhouse Ben shows what position Mill Valley is getting used to...!


Congratulations to Josh, who joins the RED DIVISION with 4 wins!!!


Between round Skittles play.


Sometimes ya got it, sometimes ya don't. Way to go Mill Valley!!!

Pictures: University School

Here are some pictures from the prestigious University School, where Mill Valley kicked some prestigious booty!


Our team in deep concentration before a match.


Evan goes 6-0 to take First Place in K-5


Gregory also goes 6-0 to take second (due to mysterious tie-breakers!)

Mill Valley Parents are Overcome with Excitement!

Review: Last few Tournaments:

I have been negligent on the BLOG! Sorry about that... I will keep things rolling. Let's catch up with a quick summary of where we've been the last month or so!

McDowell, Jan 19
K5: First Place Team. Reese 6-0, ESeghers 5-1, RSeghers 5-1, Tillson&Otterbacher 4.5 pts.
K3: No K3 in this tournament

University School, Feb 2
K5: First Place Team. ESeghers 5-0, Reese 5-0, RSeghers 3 pts, McGuire 2.5 pts, Schroeder 2 pts, Otterbacher 1.5 pts
K3: No K3 team entered.

Elmwood, Feb 9
K5: First Place Team. Reese 6-0, RSeghers 6-0, ESeghers 5.5 pts, (waiting for other results.
K3: Waiting for other results.

Brookfield Academy, Feb 16
K5: First Place Team (23 out of possible 24 points!). Reese 6-0, RSeghers 6-0, ESeghers 6.0, McGuire 5.5 pts, Otterbacher 4.5 pts.

Evan (Mill Valley) vs. Calin

In this game, Evan faced the very tough Calin. See if you can spot the key move.
Congratulations Mill Valley Knights, who took home another K-5 first place trophy! Evan and Greg both went 5-0 to take first and second place! This game is from the fourth round.
Please send me your notation so I can put more games on the Internet!

- Assistant Coach Mark.