Ann Arbor residents Alex Kim (left), 5, and Ian Zhang, 5, shake hands after completing a match at the eighth annual Thurston Elementary School Chess Tournament on Saturday.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Children from kindergarten through eighth grade lined up to compete in Saturday's eighth annual Thurston School Chess Tournament.

The tournament at the elementary school, directed by local chess teacher Ray Garrison, is the largest of its kind in the area.

It typically draws 80 to 100 children and divides competitors into four sections based on age and chess level. Many of the participants use the tournament as a warm-up for upcoming statewide competitions.