Youth News
ICA Selects Bloomington Normal to Host 2017 K-8 Event; 2016-2017 Scholastic Year Calendar Shaping Up
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 12 May 2016 12 May 2016
After an exhaustive examination of alternatives, the Illinois Chess Association has accepted a bid from the Bloomington Normal Area Scholastic Chess (BNASC) to host the Illinois K-8 championship for the 2016-2017 school year.
BNASC President Amy Green expressed pride in the decision to offer the hosting rights to her organization. She indicates the competitive dates for the events itself will be Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12, with wild-and-crazy Bughouse (two-person teams) and faster-than-the-speed-of-light Blitz on that Friday.
8 Illinois Juniors Within Top 10 on Ties at '16 Elementary Nationals; Avery Coonley School Earns Three Team Trophies
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 08 May 2016 08 May 2016
The beauty of a Swiss-paired chess tournament is that after a few rounds, players start to compete against others of a similar level. And when that happens, draws become more likely.
In the K-6 Championship section of the 2016 US Elementary Nationals, a pair of late draws deprived Aydin Turgut from top honors after five straight wins out of the gate.
Finishing in a six-way tie for second with 6.0/7, the Decatur-area 6th grader took home third place hardware on tiebreaks.
Chicago's Aria Hoesley (coincidentally from Decatur School) finished strong with three straight triumphs to join the 6.0-score group, taking sixth place hardware on tiebreaks.
Dimitar Mardov Wins K-3 Blitz at 2016 National Elementary; Aydin Turgut Is Runner Up in K-6 Blitz, 5th in Bughouse
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 06 May 2016 06 May 2016
Illinois 7-year old Dimitar Mardov has won another national title -- this time prevailing as the K-3 Blitz Champion at the US Chess National Elementary Championships in Nashville, TN. The competition was held at the Opryland Resort on May 5.
This was Dimitar's very first rated blitz event -- and he was a late registrant who needed to coax his way into the competition!
Dimitar was the only competitor with a perfect 10 out of 10 heading into the final match. With two draws against Alexander Rutten of Georgia, Dimitar cemented the championship with 11.0 points.
Chess Taking Montessori School of C-U By (Pawn) Storm
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- Written by ICA Staff ICA Staff
- Published: 04 May 2016 04 May 2016
“Infinite potential within finite structures”
"That's what chess is. That's what children are."
The Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana has undertaken a new Chess Enrichment Program this school year under the guidance of US Chess-certified Instructor Rachel Schechter, Administrator George Cook, and School Manager Rick Dunn.
The mission statement of the program calls for "using the chessboard to develop student potential in relation to math, verbal, and social skills, logic, focus, planning, problem solving, critical thinking and abstract reasoning in a caring, child-centered environment. "
40 Illinois Girls Among US Top 100; 3 in Top 10
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 28 April 2016 28 April 2016
A huge thank you to Smitha Acharya for compiling these lists of Illinois girls among the top 100 of their respective age group nationwide.
US Chess recently started publishing these lists in hopes of rewarding and motivating more girls to thrive in chess competition.
If the recently-held National All-Girls is any indication, it's working! The Chicago competition saw 89 additional entries this year, approximately 25% more than in 2015.
Marissa Li, age 13, leads all girls with a remarkable 1939 rating. Li won the National All-Girls U14's this past weekend.