For Jacob Cherian, chess is more than just a game — it’s a lifelong pursuit of strategy, patience and mental agility.

On Saturday, March 8, and Sunday, March 9, 12 elementary and middle school students from the Lexington City Schools competed in the 2025 Virginia Scholastic Chess Championships in Charlottesville.

Raegan Hurt, a fourth-grade student at Kenesaw Public Schools, just learned the age old strategic game of chess and enjoys ...