Young local chess teams demonstrated earlier this month that it’s never too early to start playing the game of wits.

The Quail Run team, with members Jed Borovik, Alan Shi, Kellen Cross and Thomas Clark, took fifth place in the championship division, kindergarten through sixth grade, of the National Elementary Scholastic Chess Championships in Pittsburgh. The Wakarusa Valley team took 12th place in the event, which was April 2-4.

The same Wakarusa team — with members Kenny Blevins, Benjamin Harms, Douglas Rawlings and Roy Wedge — sped their way to 11th place in the K-6 Blitz, a five-minute chess competition.

Quail Run team members Thomas Reams and Kellen Cross placed 16th in the K-6 Blitz.

In individual standings, Quail Run’s Borovik won five of seven matches and received the 24th place trophy for individuals.

Wakarusa Valley’s Wedge raked in four victories and a draw, making him the team’s most successful member. Wedge earned first place for the Under-1,000 points player category and 55th overall. Wedge was categorized by the U.S. Chess Federation, which gives players a number according to win-loss records, with a maximum of 2,800. He placed sixth at state.

Harms had placed second at state.

Thirty-two teams and 240 players competed in the event.