Richards chess team shows right moves
June 21, 2012 2:26PM
Richards High School chess team members include (front, from left) Jessica Zavala and Adrian Villacorta; (back) Tom Shelton, coach Manuel Montes and Aminah Garcia. | Supplied Photo
Updated: July 25, 2012 6:03AM
Since teacher Manuel Montes arrived 12 years ago at Richards High School and started coaching chess, his teams have known nothing but success.
Montes’ legacy of achievement at Richards continued during the 2011-12 school year with what school officials said was the finest chess season in the school’s history.
Richards won its 12th consecutive conference championship and, despite playing shorthanded at the national finals, won numerous awards at the United States Chess Federal tournament in Minneapolis.
Richards competed against other students at their ability level from around the nation. In the Unrated Section, Richards placed 10th out of 30 teams. Mady Doon placed 10th out of 151 players in the division.
In the Under 800 Section (a skill level for accomplished scholastic players), Richards placed fourth out of 36 teams. This nearly equaled the team’s best showing of second place out of 35 teams in 2010.
Individually in the Under 800 section, Richards students Enrique Perez placed fourth and Ben Malecki 20th out of 215 players.
In the Under 1200 Section, Richards placed 21st out of 63 teams. Richards junior Aminah Garcia was fifth among 338 players.
Provided to the SouthtownStar
