Local chess players compete in Twin Cities

Ken Johnston
Editor

Chess players from Rainy River and Baudette rooked their way to St. Paul, Minnesota over the weekend to compete in the Americinn State Chess Tournament.
Marty Johnston, 15, and Ethan Swentik, 14, of Rainy River made the trip as did Chris Heinrich and Bryce Palm of Baudette.
Johnston competed in the 1400+ open class and faced what he termed, “Really tough competition.” Johnston who has been to the Canadian Nationals several times now, said the calibre of competition there was at the national level.
He won his first two games, one against a player ranked at 2028. “That was the first time I beat a player ranked over 2000,” said Johnston. However his next game against a 1977 ranked player saw him get smoked.
He also lost his next two games to finish 2 and 5.
Swentik, Heinrich and Palm competed in the 1000 and under bracket. Heinrich won 3 out of 5 games, Swentik 2 out of 5 and Palm 1 out of 5.
No one brought any prize money home, but Johnston said they all had fun.