2025 Minnesota State Scholastic Chess Tournament ends with three-way first-place tie

First three-way tie in more than 60 years
2025 Minnesota State Scholastic Chess Tournament ends with three-way first-place tie
2025 Minnesota State Scholastic Chess Tournament ends with three-way first-place tie (Dakota News Now)
Published: Mar. 10, 2025 at 11:58 AM CDT
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ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Teams from all over the state headed to Saint Paul to test their mettle at the 2025 Minnesota State Scholastic Chess Tournament which ended with a once-in-a-lifetime three-way tie.

Century High School, Eastview High School and Eden Prairie High School all finished with 19.5 points; the first three-way tie in more than 60 years.

Left to right: freshman Joshua Wang (2nd in the Under 1300), freshman Calder Nguyen (11th...
Left to right: freshman Joshua Wang (2nd in the Under 1300), freshman Calder Nguyen (11th overall), Coach Chuck Handlon, sophomore captain Cole Lappi, freshman Andrew Merkel, and freshman Johan Myburgh (1st in the under 1300).(Coach Chuck Handlon)

The tournament, held at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, saw nearly 330 students in grades K-12 compete in seven rounds of chess. Players obtain one point for each win and a half point for each draw.

In the K-12 division, Century High School freshman Johan Myburgh placed first in the under 1300 USCF rating while his teammate, freshman Joshua Wang, took second place.

In the K-8 division, Schaeffer Academy’s Isaac Gommels placed 15th. John Adams' Luke Sellon tied for eighth place.

In the K-5 division, Rochester Public Schools Ben Franklin Elementary placed fifth.

The Rochester Math & Science Academy placed seventh with 13 points and was led by Hamza Suleiman who ranked third in the under 700 USCF rating division. Lourdes High School senior Jack Dougan also placed 4th in the group.

Mayo High School senior Isaac Ahn took fourth place which qualifies him for the MSCA High School Champions Playoff which begins in April.

Isaac Ahn, Mayo High School senior, took 4th overall.
Isaac Ahn, Mayo High School senior, took 4th overall.(Sharon Ahn)

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