High-level scholastic chess is making its move on Claremore. And it’s more than “e4.”
Frank Mobra Fieldhouse at Claremore High School on March 1 will host the Oklahoma State Scholastic Chess Championship Tournament.
More than 250 Oklahoma students in grades K-12 will compete for individual and team honors in five divisions. They will spend the day in Claremore in an event that begins in earnest at 9:30 a.m. and ends about 6 p.m. with tournament awards.
The tournament is orchestrated by the Oklahoma Scholastic Chess Organization and hosted by Claremore Central Upper Elementary Chess Club. The CUE club includes players in grades 4-6 and has enjoyed great success in its first year.
CUE Club placed second in December at the Pearl Harbor Scholastic Challenge at Wright Christian Academy in Tulsa. CUE backed that up with another runner-up showing Saturday at the Scholastic Chess Winter Open in Tulsa.
Claremore, at present, has a chess club only at CUE. But organizers like Mike Swatek are trying to change that.
“We are really excited to be chosen to host the state tournament,” Swatek said. “But we have selfish reasons, too.
“We are hoping this will do great things for chess in Claremore Public Schools.”
Swatek and teacher Jeannie Seidel are among the leaders of the CUE Club. They are hoping hosting the state meet will help achieve three goals.
“We need company and individual sponsors to fund the a club for junior high and high school students,” Swatek said. He listed start-up expenses as the purchase of chess sets and boards, chess clocks, club management software, tournament management software and club shirts, as well as expenses for photocopying and other miscellaneous items.
One or more organizers are needed to found the junior high/high school club, Swatek said. He said he has a “how-to” kit ready and available.
“You don’t have to be a chess expert to organize a scholastic club,” Swatek said. “I’m certainly not.”
The final need, Swatek said, is one or more faculty sponsors who would coordinate school-related issues and participate in meetings. At least one sponsor must come from both the junior high and high school.
Swatek said he would like to have the club begin in the fall and hopes to locate a local chess expert who would provide some volunteer coaching.
“By hosting the state tournament,” Swatek said, “I am hoping we can make these things more visible to the public.”
Swatek said he would like to see chess in Claremore develop into a more mainstream game.
“I could see someplace in town having ‘chess night’ when a bunch of people drop in for a meeting and just to play and talk with others who play.”
The state tournament rotates between the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas on an annual basis, Swatek said. “We just said we were interested and they said ‘okay, it’s yours.’ It’s a really big deal for us.”
Divisions for the tournament will include K-3 Open, K-6 Under 750 United States Chess Federation Rating, K-6 Open, 7-9 Open and 9-12 Open.
Top prize is a $1,000 scholarship for the 9-12 winner.
The tournament will follow the Swiss system and include five rounds. The first four rounds are limited to 40 minutes playing time, the fifth round 50 minutes.

CUE team second in second tournament
Claremore Central Upper Elementary School’s Chess Club continued its strong inaugural season Saturday by placing second in the Scholastic Winter Open in Tulsa.
Dakota White, son of Anthony and Tammy White, led the CUE Club by winning the tournament individual title. Claremore’s Shawn Swatek, son of Mike and Leslie Swatek, was second.
Morgan Burkhardt, daughter of David and Kari Burkhardt, placed sixth. Also competing for CUE were Joshua Ball, son of Randy and Terry Ball; Devon Reece, son of Evelyn Haysler; Kalan Burkhardt, son of David and Kari; George Thompson, son of Howard and Robin Thompson; and Joshua Wolfe, son of Beth Wolfe.
Claremore has competed in two Tulsa-based tournaments in 2002-03, its first season, and placed second in each. The CUE Club will compete again Feb. 15 at Wright Christian Academy in the final big scholastic tournament before the Oklahoma State Scholastic Chess Championship Tournament on March 1 in Claremore.