Co-Lin's Schexnaydre, Mississippi's No. 1 Chess Player, Takes Talent to National Stage

Benson Schexnaydre (Photo by Scarlett Hart)

Copiah-Lincoln Community College sophomore Benson Schexnaydre of McCall Creek is making Mississippi chess history. Already the highest-rated player in the state, he recently claimed the Mississippi Chess Championship title for the sixth year in a row. In 2024, he earned his U.S. Chess Master title—becoming the first Mississippian since at least the 1980s to achieve the designation and the only homegrown player in the state to ever reach master status.

This fall, Schexnaydre brought his expertise to the national stage when he served as a guest panelist at MINDSETS: The New York Chess in Education Conference, a sold-out event hosted by the National Scholastic Chess Foundation and the Kasparov Chess Foundation in New York City. The conference examined the role of chess in education, touching on curriculum, policy, and the benefits of learning through failure and play. Featured speakers included World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, Grandmaster Peter Wells, and Dr. Barry Hymer. Schexnaydre joined Will Trepp, co-founder of Rockport, and Jack Kochansky on the panel "Redefining Success at Chess."

Schexnaydre's chess journey began in 2015 at Franklin County Chess in Meadville, a program that received national attention when it was featured on 60 Minutes in 2017. Under the direction of Dr. Jeff Bulington and funded by the late Wade Creekmore, the center has made a name for itself in the world of chess. Today, Schexnaydre serves as an assistant coach at the center working with second through 12^th grade students—an experience he says is rooted in the generosity that shaped him.

"So many of the successes and personal growth I've experienced would not have happened without what he [Creekmore] did for me," he said. "Because of chess, I developed a hunger to learn more. I expanded my knowledge in academics, became healthier, traveled across the United States creating unforgettable memories, and grew into a better person—one who now understands the impact we can have on others and hopes to do so in my own way."

Chess has taken him across the country, with tournaments in California, Niagara Falls, Washington, D.C., Michigan, and Philadelphia, among others.

Benson Schexnaydre and Dr. Jeff Bulington

At Co-Lin, Schexnaydre is a Presidential Scholar and biomedical engineering major who stays deeply involved on campus. He serves as Treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta, Public Affairs Officer for Co-Lin C.A.R.E.S., and works as a student recruiter with the Trailblazers. He is also active in the Co-Lin Chess Club, Alpha Omega Science Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Wolf Pack Strong, Phi Theta Kappa, and the Baptist Student Union.

He was recently named to Who's Who at Copiah-Lincoln Community College and selected as a Campus Favorite by his peers. He has earned a place on the President's List every semester, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA.

After Co-Lin, Schexnaydre plans to pursue an engineering degree at Mississippi State University and later attend medical school, with an interest in pediatrics. Reflecting on his time at Co-Lin, he keeps his message simple—"If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change a single thing."

He is the son of Randy and Sonya Schexnaydre of McCall Creek.