Youth News
Rockford Marshall Earns 8th Grade Title at 2016 IESA
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 27 February 2016 27 February 2016
Bloomington Evans and Normal Chiddix both won team trophies in all three divisions at the 2016 IESA Championships.
But it was Rockford Marshall garnering the 8th Grade team championship, led by individual champion Vincent Do and silver medalists Sengdao Inthavong, Jeremiah Davis, and Sreyansh Mamidi.
Complete results for the IESA are posted, along with information on how a junior high or middle school might participate in the 2017 competition which will once again be held in Peoria.
Over 50 teams and 479 individuals competed in the two-day, seven-round event completed February 27 at the Peoria Civic Center.
Record Turnout of 422 at YCFC / CCF Rickover Tourney
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 24 February 2016 24 February 2016
Goudy teammates Daniel Percastegui and Muhammad Balai faced off in a playoff game to decide the Advanced Section of the February 20 YCFC / CCF tournament. Percastegui prevailed in the five-minute blitz match to claim the top trophy. Both had perfect 5-for-5 days before that, ahead of an eight-way pack of 4.0 scorers. The duo led Goudy to the Advanced team championship, aided by Mohammad Rahman's 3.0 tally.
Avi Kaplan, Ryan Wong and Umair Ahmed placed third through fifth on tiebreaks in that 4.0 score group. Others with 4.0 included Jimmy Nguyen, Rob Parkel, brothers Aditya and Vikram Oberai, and Jana Zivanovic. Thanks to the 4.0's from Ahmed, Nguyen, and Zivanovic, the Bateman team took second place hardware.
In five sections, 422 competed at Rickover Naval Academy, the most ever for a YCFC event.
Whitney Young Regains IL High School Team Championship
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 13 February 2016 13 February 2016
After a year absence, Whitney Young has once again won the IHSA state team chess championship. Despite losing on first board, Whitney Young defeated Stevenson (Lincolnshire) 42.0 to 26.0 in the final round to claim the championship with a perfect 7.0.
With a large faction of the tournament hall gathered around Fourth Board and the team score at 33.0-26.0, Nikhil Kalghatgi offered a draw to his Stevenson opponent, Conrad Oberhaus. The 4.5 points would have been enough to secure the team championship, but would have cost Nikhil his own perfect score. When the offer was rejected, Nikhil went on to secure the win in a thrilling end game.
Stevenson was one of five squads winding up with 6.0/7, taking second place with the highest tiebreak in the score group.
146 Illinois High School Teams Migrate To Peoria
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 12 February 2016 12 February 2016
Main Story: For the second year in a row, 146 eight-board teams are competing at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) team championships. The two-day, seven-round event kicked off today, February 12, in Peoria. Crosstables are being posted here on the IHSA site.
After Round 5: Heading into Round 6 (of 7) three teams remain undefeated. IMSA (Aurora) plays the dark colors at table one against Stevenson (of Linconshire). Whitney Young (of Chicago) plays the dark colors on table two against Glenbrook North (Northbrook) who is one of 19 teams with 4.0/5.
Varga Wins K-12 Section at '16 Greater Chicago Event
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 07 February 2016 07 February 2016
354 players competed in eight sections at the February 7 2016 Greater Chicago K-12 Championships, 98 of whom played in one of four "Varsity" divisions. US Chess crosstables are posted.
The event was organized by Renassance Knights Chess Foundation. According to its President David Heiser, the Foundation "sponsored 151 inner city students with free entry and one year USCF (US Chess) memberships."
Matthew Varga survived a second-round draw, winning his other four matches to post the highest score in the K-12 Varsity section, 4.5/5. Eric Starkman, Michael Dula and Eduard Danilyan all posted 4.0/5's.