Tennessee Tech University hosted young competitors from across the state recently for the 2025 Susan E. Kantor Tennessee Scholastic Chess Championship, presented by the Tennessee Chess Association. The top eight players from each of Tennessee’s four regions competed in Primary, Elementary, Middle School, and High School divisions.

In the Primary (K–3) Section, Cookeville’s Sam Lepley, a second grader at Capshaw Elementary School, won all five of his games to become the 2025 Tennessee State Champion. His victory marks the first state title for Region II in more than a decade, an achievement that reflects both Sam’s dedication and the growing strength of scholastic chess in the Upper Cumberland.

Sam began playing chess through the Young Knights chess program at the Putnam County Public Library and has been competing in tournaments since 2023. He is also the Region II champion for both 2024 and 2025, earning his place at this year’s state championship through strong regional performances.

When asked how it felt to win the state championship, Sam was all smiles and said:
“It felt great! I’ve played a lot of the same players at other tournaments, and I knew they were good players, so I worked really hard to get ready for this tournament, and it always feels good when practice pays off.”

His favorite part of tournaments is simple. “I like the competition,” he said.

As state champion, Sam will go on to represent Tennessee at the GM Maurice Ashley National Tournament of K–3 Champions in 2026. The national invitational—one of the most respected events in scholastic chess—will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during the 126th Annual U.S. Open Chess Championship.