The Anita Delafield Memorial Chess Tournament

Our final tournament of the year is dedicated to Anita Delafield, mother of Dr. Karen Hickman, Deputy Superintendent of Academic Achievement. Mrs. Delafield has long been a supporter of the chess program in PISD through her passion for chess and generous donations. She was a frequent spectator at the PISD chess exhibitions and tournaments and was always impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication exhibited by both the students and the coaches. We are saddened at the passing of such a gracious soul, but we will continue to honor Mrs. Delafield through our continued commitment to the growth and success of the PISD Chess program.

On Saturday, May 13, Pasadena ISD held its Seventh Annual May Chess Championship at Beverly Hills Intermediate.  268 students participated, which is the fourth highest number in the history of Pasadena ISD.   39 campuses were represented including 6 high schools, 8 intermediate schools, 7 middle schools, and 18 elementary schools.  33 of the schools participating were from Pasadena ISD, 5 were from Deer Park ISD, and one was a private school. PISD Chess Directors are Leslie Axel and James Early. US Chess Federation Tournament Directors for this tournament were Bob Bartel, James Early and Susan Metcalfe.

In all divisions, each student played five games, receiving one point for each win and a half-point for each draw.  The first table below shows the top five finishers in each of the six divisions with their final scores.  The second table shows the top three teams in each division.

This past Saturday, November 11, Pasadena ISD held its Eighth Annual Fall Chess Tournament at Beverly Hills Intermediate.  230 students participated.   35 campuses were represented including 6 high schools, 10 intermediate schools, 6 middle schools, and 12 elementary schools.  29 of the schools participating were from Pasadena ISD, 5 were from Deer Park ISD, and one was a private school. PISD Chess Directors are Leslie Axel and James Early. US Chess Federation Tournament Directors for this tournament were James Early and Susan Metcalfe.

In all divisions, each student played five games, receiving one point for each win and a half-point for each draw.  The table below shows the top five finishers in each of the six divisions with their final scores. 

On Saturday,  May 12, Pasadena ISD held its eighth annual May Chess Championship at Beverly Hills Intermediate.  222 students participated.   31 campuses were represented including 1 high school, 5 intermediate schools, 6 middle schools, and 19 elementary schools.  27 of the schools participating were from Pasadena ISD, 3 were from Deer Park ISD, and one was a private school. 

Our profuse thanks are extended to all the campus chess coaches and other adult volunteers who came and helped.  Thanks are also due to our scorekeepers, hall monitors, and to the custodians who cleaned up after us.  I am also grateful for all the campus administrators and central office personnel who came to support the students.  Special thanks are due my co-directors Bob Bartel and Susan Metcalfe, to Stacey Barber (BHI principal) for again letting us use her wonderful building, and of course to my co-director Leslie Axel, for taking care of all the logistics. Since Leslie will be retiring at the end of this school year, this was her last tournament.  All of us who are involved in PISD chess appreciate her so much and are grateful for all she has done for chess (and everything else too!) these past 6 years.

In all divisions, each student played five games, receiving one point for each win and a half-point for each draw.  The first table below shows the top five finishers in each of the six divisions with their final scores.  The second table shows the top three teams in each division.