Big things can come from humble beginnings. It is a common theme in this season of graduations, as seniors set out to follow their dreams.

But one Macomb graduate has proven this, even before he graduated.

Jasson Harris-Green recently won the Oklahoma Scholastic Esports High School Scissortail Division State Chess Championship for the second year straight. That led to East Central University Esports Director Cody Soden offering Harris-Green a full scholarship to help start their inaugural Esports Chess Team, said Macomb High School Principal Steve Martin in an email. He signed a letter of intent on May 6 during an awards assembly.

Harris-Green said he has been playing chess for over a decade now, so at least since he was eight years old.

“I love the immense amount of strategy there is and how unique every game turns out to be,” said Harris-Green in an email. “I first learned a bit of chess from my dad, but Macomb’s after-school program is where my passion for chess started, and I learned all the basics.”

The Macomb after-school program is funded by a grant from the Oklahoma 21st Century Community Learning Center and directed by Shannon Browning.

Martin said Browning was trying to find something that would encourage Harris-Green several years ago.

“She tried Minecraft and different gaming options, and when he was in the fifth grade, she did a student voice survey, and Jasson told her he might like to learn chess,” said Martin. “She ordered a chess program that Mr. and Mrs. McAnulty got busy learning, and started chess the very next cycle, and Jasson never missed.”

In his sixth-grade year, the McAnultys moved, and Browning found another chess tutor, Tanner, through the Pioneer Library System.

“Tanner got moved to another area and couldn’t come down each week, but told Shannon that Jasson could probably teach the class, stating ‘Jasson might be better than me.’ Shannon thought for sure that Jasson, being extremely shy, would say no, but he was super excited and jumped at the chance,” said Martin.

“His chess club originally was just a fall and winter club (which) stayed at full capacity every single cycle, so much so that his 10th-grade year, they had to add another chess club each week, and it went all four cycles!”

That same year, Martin was looking for programs to interest those students who were not in any other extracurricular activities when he discovered Esports.

“I was able to buy some gaming consoles, and a brand new teacher, Jeff Knoke, stepped up and volunteered to be our Esports coach,” said Martin. “Mr. Knoke got Jasson signed up to compete in chess.”

Harris-Green recalls, “I’ve loved playing games all my life, and I’m a pretty competitive person, so Esports perfectly fit right up my alley. I started Esports as soon as it opened up at my school in my sophomore year, thanks to the history teacher, Mr. Knoke. I also play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, though nowhere nearly as well as I play chess.”

During the Esports season, Harris-Green said he would play three competitive matches per month for three months, and he played four matches at the state playoffs. He said his main challenge is not getting in his own head, and an even bigger challenge is finding opponents on his level of chess skills.

“In his first season, Jasson came one match away from the finals, losing in the semifinals to a senior and the eventual state champion. The next season, as a junior, Jasson went undefeated through the season and won the state championship,” said Martin.

“His senior year went about the same way as he cruised to his second straight state championship - winning the title again, making him a back-to-back state champion and earning him the nickname ‘Two-Time,’ from our Athletic Director and girls coach Jimmy Hancock.”

Harris-Green was the Salutatorian for graduation on May 9, but he opted out of speaking due to his shy nature. Having the same fear of public speaking, Martin understood and asked if he could speak about Harris-Green’s story instead, and the senior agreed.

“Before finding this success in chess, Jasson had not thought about going to college. Whether it was fear of the unknown or the financial hurdle it presented, it was not something he saw in his future,” said Martin during graduation.

“But because of the avenue opened up before him by Mr. Knoke and his dedication to taking our Esports students across the state to compete and be seen, Jasson Harris-Green will be the first student in over 80 years to receive a scholarship to East Central University, as their inaugural player and the base on which they plan to build their chess team and compete against colleges and universities across the country.

Jasson currently plans to study computer science, as well. I told Jasson that, when he competes for the national championship, he better be wearing his Macomb jersey underneath ECU’s.”

When asked what advice he would give to other students wishing to join Esports Chess, Harris-Green said, “If your school already has Esports, and you can compete in chess, just go for it. You’ll do a lot better than you possibly think right now. There’s so many free resources online to help you along your journey, and there’s always something for you to learn from in every game you play, so you can come back better for the next game. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up in my shoes in the future.

If your school has Esports and chess isn’t available, talk to your director (or whoever’s running your Esports program) and ask about it. There’s also local tournaments held all across the state that you can compete in; it just takes a bit of effort to find them.”

Fellow Macomb student Gio Rivera-Jimenez also won the Esports EA FC25 (soccer) State Championship in May 2025.