The Third Annual Lathrop Mayor’s Cup Chess Tournament was a huge success both from a chess and organizational standpoint. The hospitality and comfortable playing space offered by River Islands Technology Academy is truly unmatched for chess tournaments in San Joaquin County. Parents had access to free WiFi and fresh coffee while chess players took to the basketball court for some extra fun in between rounds. Of course the most notable feature of the Mayor’s Cup Chess Tournament was the chess skill scores of children demonstrated on their boards during the course of their five rated rounds. After each round concluded, many of the participants took time to show Chris Torres their games and gain valuable feedback from the experienced coach. At the end of the day, all participants and their families attended an elaborate awards ceremony where the Mayor of Lathrop, Sonny Dhaliwal, addressed the crowd and distributed a prize to every young chess player.