Recent Warren Junior Scholar Alums -- and current WJS / Rising Stars -- totaled $11,792.78 in prize money from the 2018 Chicago Class, completed July 23 in Wheeling.
2018 IMSA Graduate George Li was the big winner -- claiming $3100 for top honors in the Master section of the event. Despite a fifth-round draw with fellow WJS alum Spencer Lehmann, Li beat out six grandmasters for the tournament victory.
With 4.0/5, Lehmann won $1350, sharing in both the 2nd place overall and 1st place for U2400 prize pools.
Former WJS Jack Curcio and current WJS Matthew Stevens both earned $150 checks, tying for second among U2400 entrants with 3.0/5 scores.
WJS Alum Max Zinski was the clear winner of the Expert section with a perfect 5.0 score, claiming $2,000. Max's mother coordinated the WJS program for several years through his Benet Academy graduation.
Current WJS Shreya Mangalam banked $800 for her second place tie with 4.0/5 -- and added to that pay day with a $500 paycheck for top Mixed Doubles honors. Recent WJS Alum Nicholas Bartochowski was her partner, also earning him $500 supplemented by his $44.44 check for nine-way tie for fourth place in the section.
In Class A competition, WCM Natalie Wisniowski earned $666.67 for her second place tie with four wins and only one loss. Paired with Nicholas Ladan, the two split $250 tying for second in the mixed doubles competition. Both are current Scholars.
WJS designee Roger Li -- who dealt Natalie her only loss -- also won $125 for his share of the mixed doubles runner-up prize pool (as did his partner Lillian Wu of Tennessee). Rising Star Nandini Prakash and Scholar Ekansh Mehrotra also earned $125 a piece with the same combined 7.0 score.
Rising Star Max Matura won $1200 thanks to his co-championship in the Class B section which featured 71 players, finishing with four wins and a draw. Ekansh augmented his mixed doubles winnings with $133.34 for his split of fourth place prize money. Star Daniel Lee tied with Mehrotra, earning a similar check. Finishing one-half point back with 3.5, just out of prize money were current Stars Daniel Zhang and Christian Turk.
Current Scholars and Stars were shut out of Class C prize money -- but ex-Rising Star Alex Ding pocketed $160 for his third-fourth place tie with four others, all with 4.0. Ex-Rising Star Alex Turk, home for the summer from Phillips Academy Andover, just missed prize money with a 3.5 tally.
With a fifth-round victory over fellow Rising Star Layla Rodriquez, Colin Wicks earned shares of third and fourth place prize money in Class D competition. $280 checks went to each of the 4.0 finishers. Ever the good sport, Layla commented that her young foe did a masterful job blunting all the attacks in their match.
Due to rating, it's unlikely Class E competition participants are yet qualified for Rising Stars or Warren Scholars -- but no doubt the competition included future members of these elite classes.
Certainly the above details demonstrate that the body of work from Scholars and ICA Stars greatly enhanced the quality of competition at the 2018 Chicago Class. The ICA applauds their hard work and the success which follows.