Foster beats international master chess champion

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James Foster, a 2nd grade student at Voyager Elementary School in Alexandria, recently participated in a chess tournament in the Twin Cities. There he beat 2009 Minnesota Open chess champion Viktor Adly, an international master chess player from Russia, during a simultaneous exhibition match.

During the match, Adly took on 17 players at the same time. Of those players, age kindergarten through 12th grade, Foster was the only victor.

Foster also earned a 3rd place at the Pillager chess tournament. Instead of playing in his age group, kindergarten through grade 3, he moved up and played in the 4th to 6th grade bracket. He won his first four matches, then lost the champion match.

Foster’s brother, Kagan, 11, and a student at Lincoln Elementary School in Alexandria, participated in the St. Paul Capitol Hill chess tournament in February. He won all five of his matches, which earned him 1st place in the 5th grade division.

On April 18-19, the Foster brothers will compete at the state chess tournament in Minneapolis. They are the sons of Sean and Shelli-Kae Foster of Alexandria.

Tags: life, student, foster, chess