The biggest display of cerebral muscle in Windsor-Essex will celebrate a milestone next week.
The Windsor Chess Challenge will take place Tuesday and Wednesday at the Ciociaro Club in Tecumseh. For the 25th anniversary edition, as many as 1,500 students from across the region are participating.
"The students are so excited to represent their school," said event coordinator Kathleen Westlake. "Some arrive wearing matching team shirts. My favourite part of the day is watching the team pictures that are taken at the end with students proudly holding their medals and smiling for the camera."
John Coleman organized the first challenge in 1999 at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Lauzon Road in Windsor. It surpassed expectations and welcomed 292 players.
The event moved in 2000 to the Serbian Centre, with 550 players in two halls. In 2001, the challenge made the Ciociaro Club its permanent home.
Westlake took over the event in 2015, with Coleman staying on in an advisory role. She has seen the challenge bounce back from many challenges, including bad weather, school strikes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The Covid pause nearly ended the event," said Westlake. "I didn’t think there was still any interest in running the tournament, and I couldn’t have been more wrong. The 2023 tournament’s return surprised me. The response was overwhelming. And this year, we filled to capacity in only eight days, a new record."
New for the silver anniversary is a name for the trophy awarded to the school earning the most points. It's now known as the Windsor Chess Challenge John Coleman Legacy Trophy.
Over 300 medals are awarded each year, with the winners advancing to The Playoffs, which are scheduled for April 19.
Registration for the 2025 event is closed, but complete information can be found on its official website.
