Bay Mills chess champion

Bedell hits chess jackpot at KewadinLester Bedell made his first chess tournament in Michigan a memorable one this past weekend.

Bedell, a Bay Mills Tribal member from Atlanta, Ga., captured the 37th annual Upper Peninsula Chess Open tournament, held at the Kewadin Casino.

Bedell accumulated four wins and a draw in five games, finishing first overall to collect the top cash prize of $200 in the United States Chess Federation (USCF) sanctioned event.