Members of the Chess Club competed at the state Grade Level Championships chess tournament on Saturday, Jan. 16.

The tournament was hosted by the Kansas Scholastic Chess Association (KSCA).

The results are as follows:

Tenth Grade Division: sophomore Noah Bruggeman – fourth place

Sixth Grade Division: Kamden McBride – second place

Bruggeman and McBride both compete alongside the team when they meet up to compete in tournaments. However, McBride does not attend Hays High. McBride is a sixth grader who practices with the Chess Club every week and competes with them.

Those who compete in chess tournaments go by age category, so while the Hays High team competes against other high school students, McBride plays against middle school students.

Along with playing with the Chess Club, Bruggeman competes individually.

Bruggeman said fourth place for his age group is an accomplishment.

“The most difficult part was it all being virtual,” Bruggeman said. “I’ve been competing over-the-board since fourth grade, so this year has been a bit of a shake-up.”

The Chess Club will compete against Concordia on Saturday, Jan. 30.

21mmcbride@usd489.com