Chess club will hold a holiday tournament the week leading up to Christmas break. A total of 16 contestants are on the roster to compete in the tournament.

    “It will be a free-for-all,” teacher Jim Konnie said. “I don’t know anybody’s skill level; some people just learned how to play on the first day, while others seem accomplished.”

    Contestants will battle during the week before Christmas break, whenever there is time. The winners will receive a trophy and the satisfaction of being the best.

    “I feel like it will be a great way to end the year before Christmas Break,” Konnie said.

    Many of the contestants have their own opinions about how the tournament will play out.

    “I think I will win,” junior Sean Walters said. “I don’t think it will be close. It will be a landslide.”

    Not everybody agrees. While it is accepted that Walters is a force to be reckoned with, some other contestants aren’t so sure that he will win hands-down.

    “I think it will be close, probably between Sean and Alex,” junior TJ Vohs said. “It is possible that somebody unexpected could even win. I don’t know.”

    Contestants look forward to the tournament with great ambition to win.