For the love of chess: annual tourney attracts crowd of kids
Free event open to all students in grades K-12 in Grant and Adams counties.
EPHRATA — The 19th Waypoint Foundation Scholastic Chess Tournament attracted 106 youth participants from across the Columbia Basin to Parkway Intermediate School in Ephrata on Saturday.
“It’s the most players we’ve ever had,” said Roger Pugh, who helps organize the annual event with his brother, Troy.
The free tournament is open to all students in grades K-12 attending public, private, or home schools in Grant and Adams counties. Registration is typically limited to 100 entrants, but officials opted to include a handful of extra players who had signed up.
Ben McLain, an 11th-grader from Ephrata, emerged as the 2026 winner, prevailing in the round-robin championship against opponents James Barber of Moses Lake (9th grade) and Ezekiel Klopov of Soap Lake (9th grade).
There were five rounds of play, starting in the morning and continuing into the early afternoon, with cash prizes awarded up to $500 for first place. The event is also a regional qualifying tournament for state-level high school team and elementary individual tournaments.
A pizza lunch was provided to youth participants.
“And why do we play chess?” Roger asked the crowd of kids during their opening orientation.
“To have fun,” replied one little girl.
The Pughs agreed. They also said the game helps young people display sportsmanship, develop strategy, learn to make choices, and see the consequences of decision-making — all beneficial experiences as they grow older.
