SD Chess Calendar

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S D C A - South Dakota Chess Association

BHSU Chess Camp

Written by Web Custodian

Hurry! The deadline to sign up for the last summer chess camp in SD is July 8th!

Click here to see the registration details at the BHSU website or cut and paste this URL into your favorite browser: https://edoutreach.bhsu.edu/registration/eventDescription.cfm?event=181

This week long half day camp is designed to give kids the afternoon to practice and digest what they have learned in the morning session, or take a break from chess thinking to relax with their family and take in some of the attractions of the beautiful black hills. The camp is well staffed with the top rated chess players from the region with a superior instructor to camper ratio. Whatever level of chess knowledge and playing ability the campers start with, they will expand their understanding and joy for the game.

Each camper will receive a tournament style set and board with a travel bag, a score book to record their games, and free entry into the Saturday tournament. During the week the campers will have a chance to win additional prizes such as magnetic pocket sets or even electronic hand held chess computers. Sign up today for an experience that will be fun and promote a solid foundation of reasoning skills.

Click here to download pdf flyer or cut and paste

Need to car pool?

At least one van will be traveling from Rapid City to Spearfish and back each day. For more car pooling info from Rapid or your area please call Mark Derby at: 605.202.1575

From the President June 2009

Written by Bob Boland

June 18, 2009

To all SDCA members, and other supporters of chess in South Dakota:

I would first like to thank those members of the SDCA who nominated, and then elected me as your new President for the next year. Although we all come from differing backgrounds, and have our normal, and sometimes very busy lives, we occasionally come together to play this wonderful historic & challenging game. Whether one plays at the highest level of chess, such as Grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky, or is just learning how to move the pieces, the game serves as our commonality. As your new President, that is my primary focus for the next year…let’s play chess, play it as frequently as we can, and promote it to a whole new generation of chess players! That, my chess friends, is my only agenda.

I can say with much certainty that there is no way for me to accomplish this agenda without your support. It takes people to make any organization work, and I respectfully ask all of you to support the efforts of the SDCA through your time, and personal resources. Although we all wish we had some sort of Denny Sanford-type benefactor, we all know that this support does include our finances on occasion. I only ask that you help if you can, and any support is greatly appreciated!

I look forward to promoting chess in our state, and I’m always open to discussing chess matters with anyone. Feel free to contact me via telephone at (605) 782-8202, or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If I’m not immediately available, I can assure you that I will get back in touch with you as soon as practical. Take care, and enjoy the game!

Sincerely yours,

Robert F. “Bob” Boland

President

2009 Scholastic Championship

Written by Web Custodian

The 2009 South Dakota Scholastic Chess Championships were held on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at the Garretson School in Garretson, SD, with 87 students from around the state registered for this annual scholastic chess tournament sponsored by the South Dakota Chess Association. Students from grades K-12 battled all day for the bragging rights to be called a state champion in one of four individual & team sections (K-3, primary; K-5, elementary school; K-8, middle school; and K-12, high school).

Fourth grader Michael Knudson wins his fifth straight state championship. In the end, it was again the dominance of 4th grader Michael Knudson of the Rapid City Home School Association who provided the biggest highlight of the annual state championship as he won his fifth straight individual state title as he won the K-5 section (previous four state titles were all in the K-3 section as he won that section each of the four years he entered in the state tournament). A truly remarkable performance by Knudson as he continues to dominate the lower grades in SD scholastic chess.

Not far behind in this dominance on the scholastic scene was the performance of Kyle Jensen of Stevens High School in Rapid City, who won the individual title of state champion in the K-12 section. This is Jensen’s fourth straight state title (previous three titles were in the K-8 section), and with his win in the high school section he is now eligible to be sponsored by the SDCA to participate in the Annual Arnold Denker Tournament of High School Champions. This tournament sponsored by the United States Chess Federation is annually held in conjunction with the US Chess Open, which this year is scheduled for August 1-8, 2009, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In the teams competition in this year’s state tournament, Mark Twain Elementary School of Sioux Falls, SD, returned to the center stage with their win in the K-3 section. Many years ago in the scholastic scene, Mark Twain ES was a dominant force in the K-6 section which eventually was changed to the K-5 section. One newcomer to the top teams ranks was crowned this year as Garretson Elementary School in Garretson, SD, won their first ever team state championship in the K-5 section. The Pierre Indian Learning Center in Pierre, a long-time power on the SD scholastic scene, took the state championship title in the K-8 section, with the Greater Sioux Falls Home School Association winning the K-12 section in a return to their former dominance on the scholastic scene.