The Saint Ignatius chess team captured its third sectional championship in six years after defeating rival Kelly in the final round, earning qualification for the state tournament. The title continued a stretch of consistent success for the program and was secured through preparation, strategic planning, and balanced performance across all boards. 

Entering the final round, the team understood the importance of the matchup and relied on a clear, match-wide approach.

Assistant coach Matt Flynn said “There was a hyped atmosphere with good cooperative attention with regard to team planning and strategy.”

According to Flynn, players remained engaged with team goals and communicated effectively during rounds, which proved especially valuable in the decisive match against Kelly.

In the final round, Saint Ignatius gained an early advantage when board one secured a win. Board one is the teams top player with games being worth the most points. This allowed for a strategic defensive shift for the remainder of the match. 

“Board one won early, allowing four boards to successfully draw their games,” Flynn explained. 

With that early lead secured, the team focused on maintaining stable positions and minimizing risk. 

Flynn also noted there was “good leadership all around” from both coaches and captains.

Co-captain and board three player William Atwood identified team depth as a major factor in the sectional win. 

“We knew going in that our greatest strength was our depth,” Atwood said. “If we were even on the top boards, then we would be significantly better on the lower boards, and that held true for the entire day.” 

Reflecting on preparation for the final round, Atwood said “We were optimistic, knowing we had beaten them already this year, but we made sure to stay focused knowing that our goal was right in front of us,” he said. 

The team reinforced its plan from earlier rounds and emphasized consistency. 

“We reminded everyone to go out and play their game,” Atwood said.

“Before the match it was very positive. We had worked all day for this and felt confident in our ability to pick up one last victory,” he said.

“People were highly stressed, knowing the match would come down to one or two games,” Atwood said, adding that the win brought relief. 

According to Atwood, coaches and captains helped maintain focus by reviewing games and encouraging players to move on quickly to the next round. 

With the sectional title secured, Saint Ignatius now turns its attention to the state tournament.