Wildcat Chess wins individual awards at CES Chess Tournament
![Team members Allen Huang (left) and Justin Gammage (right) practice strategy before the tournament starts, while teammate Camilla Barksdale (standing) looks on]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1765985881/mpsdk12net/acls9az7pwg8qp27qdcw/MHSChess2871.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1765985881/mpsdk12net/acls9az7pwg8qp27qdcw/MHSChess2871.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1765985881/mpsdk12net/acls9az7pwg8qp27qdcw/MHSChess2871.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1765985881/mpsdk12net/acls9az7pwg8qp27qdcw/MHSChess2871.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1765985881/mpsdk12net/acls9az7pwg8qp27qdcw/MHSChess2871.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1765985881/mpsdk12net/acls9az7pwg8qp27qdcw/MHSChess2871.jpg","width":2200}])
The MHS Chess Team gained valuable experience participating in the CES Chess Championship in Oxford, MS, on December 13, 2025. Players were rated individually for the tournament, meaning that schools were not scored as a team. The Wildcats had four players win individual awards during the event.
In the K12 Under Section, MHS Junior Charles Rom placed first and was awarded a scholarship to Ole Miss towards class tuition. Also placing in the K12 Under Section were MHS Senior Mikaylah Edwards, who placed fourth. Edwards is also the team president and captain, and MHS Junior and team secretary, Autumn Godwin, placed fifth.
MHS Senior Varice Hughes, who is team vice president and captain, captured second place in the K12 Rated Section after a close game with the overall tournament champion. Hughes also received a scholarship towards tuition at Ole Miss. The scholarships awarded are worth 3-6 credit hours of tuition at Ole Miss.
As a district-wide group, the team was invited back to appear at the MSCA Ole Miss Invitational at the end of January, which will offer our players additional opportunities to compete for scholarships and more programming from Ole Miss' Office of Pre-College Outreach.