Checkmate! Dallas ISD’s biggest trophy and how Townview TAG prepares to defend

Submitted by Student Activities Department

Student Activities competitions are in full swing, and one of the most highly anticipated events, the High School Fall Chess Tournament, is quickly approaching. With chess being one of Dallas ISD’s most popular activities, no trophy is more sought after than first place.

Lakeisha Adams, the chess coach at School for the Talented and Gifted at Townview, has been able to instill a strong culture of growth. Last year, her team secured first place in the district.

“Our team stands apart because there are so many players who are dedicated to perfecting their craft and growing as chess players,” Adams said.

Winning requires hard work, and Townview TAG is no stranger to that.. The team meets weekly to hone their skills and has a Google Classroom to stay in touch. “

“Townview TAG gains extra practice in preparation by competing in tournaments outside the district, such as the annual Bilhartz tournament,” she said. “We even host mini tournaments on our own campus.”

Because of chess’s popularity, Townview Tag used these tournaments to determine the top 10 players who would advance to compete at the district level.

Tournaments consist of five rounds. Students were power matched with their opponents to increase the difficulty with each win. A school’s top five performing students make up their overall team score. Several students from Townview TAG were able to win all five of their rounds last year, which is why they achieved first place.