The chess club took seventh place out of 35 teams at a state tournament last week.

Individually, sophomore Sheena Zeng placed fourth and sophomore Japheth Briney took fifteenth out of 154 competitors.

“It was the highest I’ve placed at a state chess tournament and the best chess I’ve played all around,” Briney said.

Briney said he will be improving by looking at specific openings and familiarizing himself with the counter-plays to them.

Briney also said the earlier rounds are the easiest because competitors are matched with a less skilled player early in the tournament.

“(The) hardest part is the last two rounds because those are normally your hardest opponents, and you are already mentally exhausted from the previous rounds,” Briney said.

21kboyle@usd489.com