header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 12
1928 - St. Francis Dam collapses at 11:57:30 PM, killing an estimated 411 people from Saugus to the sea. America's deadliest civil engineering failure of the 20th Century [stories & photos]
St. Francis Dam


Hundreds participate in weekend-long championship series at Hyatt Valencia
| Sunday, Mar 25, 2012

Some of the nation’s top youth chess players are in Santa Clarita this weekend, competing for a chance to represent California in two national tournaments later this year.

The 2012 SuperStates Chess Championships are being hosted by the California Youth Chess League (CYCL), a Santa Clarita-based nonprofit, at the Hyatt Regency Valencia hotel through Sunday.

More than 600 children ages 5 thru 17 are participating in the competition, which kicked off Friday evening with a fun, 2-player-team round of “Bughouse.”

“This is a unique event,” said founding CYCL Director Jay Stallings. “The state championships have typically been divided into three tournaments – elementary, junior high and high school championships. All three have been held on three different weekends throughout Southern California. We’ve combined those three into one venue and one weekend, and we’re calling it SuperStates.”

The top players in this weekend’s competition will qualify to represent California in two national tournaments this summer – the Denker Tournament of High School Champions and the Barber Tournament of K-8 Champions – both scheduled during the first week of August in Vancouver, Wash.

Stallings, who is referred to as Coach Jay by his 700-plus Santa Clarita chess students, credits his wife Michel for keeping the event organized.

“She’s the one who makes sure all of the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed and turns a functional event into a great event,” said Stallings.

Together they’ve brought together dozens of chess clubs and school chess teams, from as far north as Bakersfield to as far south as Heber, a town just this side of the Mexican border, to participate in the first SuperStates event.

“We have some of the strongest teams in the nation competing here,” Stallings said.

More than 130 kids participating in the competition are from Santa Clarita.

On Saturday the players were divided into two rooms, one for the “Reserve Section” and the other for the “Open Section.” Each competitor played three rounds of chess against opponents of similar age and ability.

The Reserve Section was held in the grand ballroom, filled with kids ages 5-17.

“These are the lower-rated players,” said Stallings. “They haven’t been playing as long, maybe they don’t have lessons as often or they don’t play in as many tournaments. For them it’s just a fun thing to compete in.”

The other room – the championship room, or Open Section, was filled with “extremely tough players.”

“Some of them are No. 1 in the United States for their age. And they’re vicious, great players who study on a daily basis. Some of them have up to five or six hours of private lessons a week, plus they’re playing online for another 20 hours a week in some cases.”

That commitment, said Stallings, looks great on college applications and helps kids learn rewards for patience, study and hard work.

“You learn to be resourceful,” he said. “All of the time you’re in situations where there are issues on the chess board and you have to resolve them. It gets that creative side of the brain going, and then of course they have to calculate, and all of these things translate into a well-rounded kid, one that is not only going to score well on tests – which has been proven with research – but also a kid that’s creative and that you enjoy talking to.”

Stallings has traveled the world playing chess. He attended and played chess for the University of Alicante, about 100 miles south of Valencia, Spain, before he finished his degree at the University of Texas.

The father of two started teaching chess to Santa Clarita kids in 1994. In 1996, he and his wife founded the California Youth Chess League, a nonprofit 501c3 organization dedicated to teaching children critical thinking skills, study skills, sportsmanship and etiquette.

“For some, it’s a game, sure,” Stallings said. “For others it’s a sport. It’s an endeavor and a commitment.”

CYCL hosts evening and after-school chess programs at several local elementary schools, as well as group lessons twice a week.

Kids can participate in free chess play during CYCL meetings on Mondays at Vincenzo’s Pizza in Newhall, and Thursdays at the Lighthouse Learning Center on Constellation Road in Santa Clarita.

“Perhaps it’s not for everybody,” Stallings admitted. “It takes a thick skin in the beginning and the right attitude. My first tournament, I didn’t win a game. But I kept playing.”






Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025
St. Clare’s Catholic Church Annual Lenten Fish Fry
The 47th Annual St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church Lenten Fish Fry opened for the season on Friday, March 7, and sold out within hours. It will continue every Friday through April 11.
Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025
Valladares’ ‘Home for Heroes Act’ Clears Girst Major Hurdle
The Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation unanimously passed Sen. Suzette Valladares’ (R-Santa Clarita) Senate Bill 23 – the “Home for Heroes Act” – from committee on a 5-0, bipartisan vote of approval.
Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025
March 18: SCV Water Special and Regular Board Meeting
The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency will hold a special board meeting on Tuesday, March 18 starting at 5 p.m. followed by the regular board meeting at 6 p.m.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The 47th Annual St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church Lenten Fish Fry opened for the season on Friday, March 7, and sold out within hours. It will continue every Friday through April 11.
St. Clare’s Catholic Church Annual Lenten Fish Fry
California State Department of Education State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is sponsoring legislation, Senate Bill 502, to help local educational agencies across California address the housing affordability crisis by providing critical funding to support the development of housing for educators and school employees.
Thurmond Calls for Support of SB502 to Increase Educator Workforce Housing
The Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation unanimously passed Sen. Suzette Valladares’ (R-Santa Clarita) Senate Bill 23 – the “Home for Heroes Act” – from committee on a 5-0, bipartisan vote of approval.
Valladares’ ‘Home for Heroes Act’ Clears Girst Major Hurdle
The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency will hold a special board meeting on Tuesday, March 18 starting at 5 p.m. followed by the regular board meeting at 6 p.m.
March 18: SCV Water Special and Regular Board Meeting
As another atmospheric river bears down on Los Angeles County, the Departments of Public Health and Beaches and Harbors are reminding potential beachgoers to avoid ocean water and wildfire debris.
Beachgoers Warned to Stay Out of Water During Storms
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation is excited to announce the Spring 2025 co-ed baseball and girls’ softball leagues.
Spring Baseball, Softball Registration Open For County Parks
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has been notified of the first case of measles diagnosed in 2025 in a Los Angeles County resident that recently traveled through Los Angeles International Airport.
Public Health Confirms Measles Case in Los Angeles County
The hilarious and heartfelt production, "A Couple of Blaguards", is coming to The MAIN from Friday, March 14, to Sunday, March 23, just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day.
March 14:  The Tavern Brawlers Present “A Couple of Blaguards” at The MAIN
1928 - St. Francis Dam collapses at 11:57:30 PM, killing an estimated 411 people from Saugus to the sea. America's deadliest civil engineering failure of the 20th Century [stories & photos]
St. Francis Dam
The Master's University's Katherine Dyer finished second in the 100-free and Dylan Crane grabbed seventh on the final night of the 2025 NAIA Swimming & Diving National Championships in Elkhart, Ind., March 5-8.
TMU Swim Takes Championships at Nationals
Our community is rich with history, blending the spirit of the Old West with the history of our great nation, especially in our parks. When Santa Clarita incorporated in 1987, we only had eight parks. Today, we are home to more than three dozen, and this year, we are excited to welcome not just two new parks.
Ken Striplin | Uncovering Santa Clarita’s Hidden History in Our Parks
The Santa Clarita Arts Commission will hold its regular meeting Thursday, March 13, at 6 p.m., in Council Chambers at City Hall.
March 13: Santa Clarita Arts Commission Meets on Arts Education Plan
The Master's University men's volleyball team picked up its second consecutive conference win on the road with a 25-20, 25-17, 25-19 win over Benedictine Mesa Saturday afternoon, March 8 in Mesa, Ariz.
Mustangs Volleyball Takes Three-Set Win over #10 BenU
College of the Canyons men's golf returned to the winner's circle at the Western State Conference event at Rio Bravo Country Club on Monday, March 10, with the Cougars taking a four-stroke victory ahead of runner-up Ventura College.
Canyons Back in Top Spot with Fourth Conference Win
A flood watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for the Santa Clarita Valley from 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 13.
Flood Watch Issued by NWS for Santa Clarita Valley, Southern California
Myrna Condie, 78, the 2012 Santa Clarita Valley Woman of the Year, died on Tuesday, March 4 in American Fork Hospital, in American Fork, Utah, of heart failure.
Myrna Condie, 2012 Santa Clarita Valley Woman of the Year, Dies at 78
The College of the Canyons men's swim team went north to compete at the 46th Annual Cuesta College Invitational on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, with freshman Sebastian Villalobos breaking three COC program records.
Villalobos Breaks Three COC Swim Records
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger is advocating for an update from the University of Southern California Cancer Surveillance Program to address ongoing community cancer concerns related to the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.
Barger Requests Update on Chiquita Canyon Landfill Cancer Concerns
1890 - Castaic Range War: Landowner William Chormicle brought to L.A. to stand trial for double murder [story]
Willliam Chormicle
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, March 12, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 3 p.m.
March 12: COC Board of Trustees Business Meeting
The Hart Games will be held 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., Monday, March 24, at Valencia High School, Valencia High School Stadium, 27801 North Dickason Drive, Valencia, CA 91355.
March 24: Valencia High School to Host Hart Games
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of nine productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, March 10 to Saturday, March 15.
March 10-15: Nine Productions Filming in SCV
College of the Canyons men's golf placed second at the Western State Conference tournament played at Santa Maria Country Club on Monday, March 3.
Cougars Runner-up at Santa Maria Country Club
College of the Canyons hosted the Western State Conference South meet at Cougar Stadium on Feb. 28, with the Cougars men's and women's teams both securing second place finishes.
Cougar Track Teams Both Take Second at WSC South
SCVNews.com