DeSoto County Schools tops in chess

DeSoto County Schools tops in chess

By ROBERT LEE LONG
Community Editor
DeSoto Times Today – Hernando, MS, USA
(Updated: Monday, February 16, 2009 8:04 PM CST)

DESOTO COUNTY -Checkmate, Magnolia State.

A total of 13 DeSoto County schools participated in the Mississippi Scholastic Team and Individual Chess Championship this past weekend, with four schools claiming first place in the individuals division statewide out of a total number of 500 students participating.

Statewide, DeSoto County had first place winners in the K-3, K-5, K-8 and K-10 divisions.

“We’re a dominant force, no doubt,” DeSoto County Schools Executive Director of Leadership Emily Nelson said Monday.

Nelson takes personal pride in the fact that DeSoto County Schools did so well. Her father, the late Joel Walker, was the inspiration for the first chess teams in DeSoto County.

“It does warm my heart,” Nelson said. “My dad taught me how to play chess, and from one parent teaching his daughter how to play chess, the whole thing kind of mushroomed from that point on

.”Five of Walker’s grandsons participated in the most recent chess competition.

“He would be so proud,” Nelson said.

Here is the full story.