Moreland was

also the only undefeated player during the day's play.

Scoring allowed

for one point for a win and no points for a loss.

Richard Booth,

a parent who supports the Evans Middle School chess team, served as tournament

director. He has worked with the chess team for six years, beginning when

his first daughter was an Evans student and wanted to join a chess club.

"She played

in the first tournament we ever held," he said.

Booth said

chess is a game students will always value.

"And there's

a high correlation between chess and student's math and reading scores,

in particular."

"A lot

of schools have incorporated chess into their programs. I'd love to see

it become in a connections (optional) class in the middle schools,"

he said.

"I just

love the game. It's the most fascinating game in the world."

In addition

to Booth at Evans Middle, teacher Bob Lutz sponsors a chess club at Arnall

Middle; teacher Craig Humphrey sponsors at East Coweta Middle; Ron Mann

sponsors at Madras Middle; and Mitch Davis sponsors at Smokey Road Middle.

Bob Redman,

a chess club vounteer and longtime supporter at Moreland Elementary and

Smokey Road Middle, said that he enjoys coaching students to be strong

players. He has played chess himself for 50 years.

"It's

a good thing, and fun," he said. "If they work at playing, it

teaches them how to analyze something complex, and teaches them to keep

a goal in mind and work toward that goal. And it sure is fun to win."

Middle school

chess programs grew and county-wide chess competitions began about four

years ago when Newnan Rotarian Bob Tumperi approached Smokey Road Middle

teacher Mitch Davis and others.

Tumperi and

the Rotary Club have supported the chess clubs ever since, both with financial

help and volunteers from the club who help coach students at weekly club

meets.

Tumperi said

his support comes because of his love of the game, because play and tournaments

emphasize good sportsmanship and courtesy, and because a wealth of studies

demonstrate that mastery of the game improves student academic performance.

In addition

to the middle school students competing Saturday, Thomas Crossroads, Moreland,

Canongate, White Oak and Western Elementary Schools and Coweta County

home schoolers competed in the tournament.

The draw of

59 competitors was the largest in the four years of Coweta County chess

tournaments. The next county-wide tournament is being planned for February,

and any students from fourth through the eighth grades are invited to

compete.