After two days of intense concentration and strategy, six Cerritos students emerged as winners of this semester’s open competition chess tournament last week.

Diana Durham, a professional chess teacher and former nationally ranked woman’s champion ran the tournament.

Student Center manager Melissa Swank, as part of an ongoing expansion of weekly events, invited Durham to Cerritos College to put on the event.

This is the second year the tournament has been held at Cerritos and Durham is looking to expand the fledgling program.

“I’m hoping we can get a club started back up,” said Durham, “and that we can teach classes.”

Durham is a life-long chess fan and has been competing professionally since her family moved to the United States from Romania when she was only 14.

At one point, Durham was ranked as one of the top 30 women players in the nation.

Durham still carries an “Expert” rating and is currently teaching at elementary schools.

The winners of the tournament were decided in a best-of-three elimination format, with players divided into advanced and novice divisions.

The winners of each division will be awarded trophies and cash prizes at this semester’s Associated Students’ Fall Awards banquet.

Students interested in learning to play the game of chess can reach Durham at (562) 802-9811.