Coach Glenn Smith (left) posing with the Duffield Elementary Chess Team who won 1st place in the unrated section. GM Susan Polgar is standing in the back. Photo by Paul Truong.

Cassandra Spratlin, "Duffield chess teams' right moves," Detroit Free Press, 12 April 2005.

Duffield School's two chess teams earned high honors at the 2005 Supernationals III Chess Championship in Nashville over the weekend. Duffield's elementary team placed first in the nation among 50 teams in the unrated division and the middle school team placed second among 35 unrated teams. Unrated teams have not been rated by the U.S. Chess Federation, which sponsors the tournament.

An article in Wednesday's Free Press featured the team and its teacher, Kevin Fite, who was inspired to return to college by WJBK-TV anchorman Huel Perkins.

"I'm very excited and very tired," Fite said after the team returned to Detroit on Monday. He praised all the players and coach Glenn Smith, who Fite recruited to develop the teams. "He's the backbone of the teams," said Fite, who started teaching Duffield students chess two years ago. "He's the one who took them to the national level."

In addition to the team awards, several Duffield students earned individual recognition for placing in the top 25, including Jaron Marshall, who tied for first place in individual competition.

The Duffield teams were among seven Detroit public school teams and numerous other Michigan teams that competed.

"That was my first time, so I feel like I've done something outrageous," said Byron Green, 11, a fifth-grader on the elementary team. "It feels great." His twin sister, Bria Green, agreed. "We did our best and we came in best. And it was fun."

Duffield players relax between rounds at the fish pond.

Duffield students will resume playing and practicing chess 4-8 p.m. Friday in sessions that are open to the public at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Contact CASSANDRA SPRATLING at 313-223-4580 or spratling@freepress.com.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 21 April 2005