Robbinsdale Schools Chess Tournament Turns 50
Students from four Robbinsdale schools came together Saturday for a district tournament that’s been going on for half a century. Fourth grader Grace Emerson has been playing chess for 5 years. That seems like a long time to her, but the tournament she’s in has been around ten times as long.
“It’s fun because you can think a lot,” Grace says. “I like to think and I like things that are challenging.”
The Robbinsdale District Open Chess Tournament started back in 1969 when an enthusiast named Larry Lampert founded a kid-friendly competition at Noble School.
Today, Jonathan London helps keep the tradition alive – he’s an organizer of the tournament, and a chess coach. He looks on as around 40 kids compete in a game he thinks is good for kids.
“It’s a good skill to have,” he says. “To be able to just think ahead.”
Grace agrees – she says this is something she’ll do for as long as she can imagine. “I’m gonna play chess,” she says, “I think till college.”
