INDIANAPOLIS — Chess is a hard game of patience and strategy, but hundreds of Indianapolis Public Schools students proved they were up for the challenge.

IPS hosted its 3rd annual district-wide chess tournament at Northwest Middle School on Tuesday. More than 200 students from kindergarten to high school participated, where they competed in teams representing their schools and in groups based on their grade.

The competition has grown from its first iteration in 2022, when only 70 students participated.
This year's field included Michael Akinseye, an eighth-grader at Northwest Middle School.

"It's a skill not everyone knows, and it's special to me," Akinseye said. "It's a little nerve-racking not knowing what the other players could do, but I just know what I can do, and I do my best."

Akinseye said he was inspired to join his school's chess club after a chess grandmaster visited his class in sixth grade. He is now excited for every chance he has to compete.
"A couple moves before you get a checkmate, you know you're going to get a checkmate," Akinseye said. "It's like, I finally got what I wanted."

IPS is planning to bring back the chess tournament for another run next year.
-
Lodging reservation scam can trick you into giving up credit card information
A new and emerging lodging reservation scam is making the rounds, just in time for the busy summer travel season.
IMPD arrests unconscious driver; finds loaded gun, fentanyl, cocaine in car
An armed suspect was arrested on Tuesday after police say he was found unconscious behind the wheel with a loaded shotgun and drugs in his car on the near east side.
Strait of Hormuz oil tankers use new route despite Iran threats
Several tankers have made their way out of the Strait of Hormuz using a new route promoted by a U.N. maritime agency
Several rain chances through the weekend bring heavy rain to the state
Several rain chances heading into the end of the week and the first part of the weekend. Once the rain comes to an end, the pattern shifts and the heat is on.