Junior Owen Pelletier participated in the State Chess Championship tournament on March. 11. There were over 300 players, and those players were grouped and diverse. The groups had to defeat each other to progress, and it got more difficult as they faced better players. With strenuous efforts and decisiveness, Pelletier was crowned the co-champion of State Chess of 2025.

Pelletier went to the tournament because of his interest in chess. Since the championship tournament had many players, he faced intense competition. With players at all levels, Pelletier defeated his opponents and put more effort against better players. Pelletier challenged himself as he faced other players in the tournament.

He participated in the tournament because, “I might as well check in to give it my all.”

Pelletier explained that chess became a huge hobby of his, and he played for a few years. Pelletier went to the chess tournament for fun, challenges and thrill.

“I’ve been playing chess for a few years now, and it’s become a really big hobby of mine. And so when the State High School Championship comes around, I figure I might as well play in it. It’s a really big tournament every year, usually with a huge turnout. This year had like 330 people. And so I figured, you know what, go in there and just see what I can do. See if I can prove myself,” Pelletier said.

Pelletier played chess for three years. His years of experience in chess is not too much, but it was one of the reasons why he played in the state tournament. Three years of experience is impressive for a student who won the title co-champion in a state championship chess tournament.

Pelletier explained that the reason why he played chess in the first place is basic. Pelletier said “there was no cool motivation” why he played chess in the first place. He wanted to beat a friend in a game, but that made him obsessed with chess to the point he played it for a while.

“About three years ago, I got into it, but I think it’s because I grew an obsession with chess. It’s kinda lame. I got into it because I wanted to beat a friend,” Pelletier said.

Pelletier played aggressively in chess games. Pelletier tried to defeat his opponents decisively to win. Pelletier wins by eliminating his opponent’s several pawns or gets quick checkmates. Pelletier was not just in for the fun, he was in for the win.

Pelletier said that he played chess with an aggressive playstyle. He played the games not just to win but to “drain the souls of his opponents.” Pelletier often does this to ensure victory after defeating his foes quickly.

“Based on everyone describing me, I’m one of the most aggressive players. I show up to a game not to play, but to take their souls more or less, whether it’s an attack or I slowly squeeze the life outta them,” Pelletier said.

Others who participated the tournament or in the chess club were impressed of Pelletier’s title and how he obtained it. Pelletier’s results post-game were great as he had no losses, two draws and five wins. One of the people who were impressed by the score was junior Paul Grant, another member of the chess club.

Grant explained his reasons why Pelletier’s result ratio was “really cool.” He knew that the many players who participated were in several groups, and they got harder as other players would inevitably face better players. Pelletier gained zero losses against those players who might be as good as him.

“I know these results are really cool because the first few games, they’re against easy players. Once the easy players are out, Owen started to face better players, which was cool,” Grant said.

Post-chess tournament, Pelletier’s results were incredible. He had no losses, two draws and five wins in a 300-player-filled tournament. Pelletier won those games by playing aggressively and decisively against his opponents. Pelletier’s title means a lot to him as he had to face great players as the tournament progressed. All of these results granted Pelletier the title of co-champion of MN State Chess of 2025.

“I won the state co-champion, but it’s still the beginning,” Pelletier said.