Ludington Optimists' Scholastic
Tournament Report by Tracy M. Thompson
The 55th Annual Ludington Optimist Youth Chess Tournament was held at Ludington High School on Saturday, March 20, 2010. This is the longest-running scholastic tournament in the State. Sixty students from throughout Western Michigan played five games of chess to determine the trophy winners in three divisions. Micheal Vriesman from Hart claimed the top prize in the High School Division for the fifth straight year. Four years earlier he had moved up to play and beat the high schoolers when he was in eighth grade!
The winners in the three divisions were:
High School Division (grades 9-12):
1st: Michael Vriesman, 18, Hart
2nd: Spencer Jackson, 16, Hesperia
3rd/4th:Austin Payne, 15, Hesperia & Garret Payne, 18, Hesperia (Tie)
Middle School Division (grades 6-8):
1st: Mario Arnson, 14, Muskegon
2nd: David Meyer, 11, Traverse City
3rd: Malcolm Thompson, 13, Ludington
4th: Alec Mitteer, 11, Shelby
Elementary School Division (grades 1-5):
1st: Nathan Peterson, 10, Spring Lake
2nd: Joshua VanderMeulen, 11, Spring Lake
3rd: Bradin Maison, 9, Traverse City
4th: Logan Fisher, 9, Kalkaska
The 2010 Optimist Youth Chess Tournament was sponsored by the Ludington Optimists. It was organized by Tracy Thompson, assisted by Fabian Knizacky, DuanevCroel and Greg Bailey. The Ludington Optimists wish to thank Ludington High School for the use of the cafeteria, the Carrom Company for its donation of Drueke chess boards, and Closson’s/The Karat Patch for the great trophies.
Senior High School Tournament Director Greg Bailey watches High School Champion Michael Vriesman make his move.
Photo Credit: Joe Meyer
Elementary Winners. Spring Lake’s Nathan Peterson (far right) took first with a perfect 5-0 score; Nathan’s team mate Josh Vandermeulen (second right) won 2nd place.
Photo Credit: Joe Meyer
Middle School Champion Mario Arnson (far right) bears down against 2nd place winner David Meyer. Ludington Optimists’ organizer Tracy Thompson is standing (far right).
Photo Credit: Joe Meyer
Chris Courtright and his first year team made a fine showing!
Photo Credit: Joe Meyer
Four chess sets were handed out to players in a free raffle. The sets were all donated by world-renowned Ludington chess set manufacturer Drueke.
Photo Credit: Joe Meyer
Michael Vriesman (right) shows excellent understanding of the power of connected passed pawns in outplaying tough Muskegon player Bennario Chapman in their Round 3 game.
Photo Credit: Andy Catlin
A few words with Ludington Optimists organizer Tracy M. Thompson
WestMichiganChess.com: How did you and the Ludington Optimists get involved with this chess tournament?
Tracy: How and why it got started, I really don't know. I should make up some good origins story and put it in our club minutes! It was a big deal when I was a kid growing up in Ludington in the 1970s. I competed in the tournament while in grade school, and of course never dreamed I would be organizing it some day. I never came close to winning. My son broke the mold when he got a fourth place trophy two years ago! Leo Teholiz had been running the chess tourney for forever when I joined the Optimists in 1994. Leo stood up at our weekly Optimist Club lunch one day and asked if anyone played chess. All the old-timers knew what was up, so I was the only one out of 35 people in the room to raise their hand. Pete then pointed at me and said, "Congratulations! You're the new head of the Chess Tournament." And I've been running it ever since. Pete handed the tourney over to me, and thank goodness he also handed over to me some great chess players who do the hard work of monitoring the games during the tournament: John Neahr, Greg Bailey and Duane Croel. Pete called them the "Mesick boys." John died in 2004, but Greg and Duane come down every year and help run the tournament. Here are some links to the first few years I was in charge:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19960417&id=S8IoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TVUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7123,1396194
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19950426&id=JdILAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0VUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7160,1975385
