Youth News
Advisory group offers to raise funds for new Chicago program
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- Published: 03 June 2013 03 June 2013
A group of prominent Chicagoans interested in promoting a strong new chess program in the city's schools announced itself recently in a letter addressed to Mayor Rahm Emanuel; Barbara Byrd-Bennett, the CEO of the Chicago school system; and David Vitale, the president of the Board of Education. The group, a new ICA committee called the Chicago Schools Advisory Board, said, “Based on our collective experience in financing and fundraising, we believe we are well positioned to achieve and surpass the anticipated capital needs of an ambitious new program for Chicago.”
Oberhaus wins scholarship in National Geography Bee
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 01 June 2013 01 June 2013
Former Illinois chess phenom Conrad Oberhaus is this year's runner up in the National Geography Bee. The Lincolnshire eighth-grader was awarded a $15,000 college scholarship after he beat out all but one of the top ten finalists. All told, almost four million entered this year's competition.
Conrad last competed in USCF-rated chess in the spring of 2011, earning impressive plus scores at the Junior High (OH) and Elementary (TX) finals. As a sixth grader, he won the all-ages Class B section of the 2010 Midwest Class in Wheeling, winning all five rounds.
2013 All-Girl National Championships
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 04 May 2013 04 May 2013
280 young ladies from across the country competed at the 2013 All-Girl Nationals, held in Chicago April 26-28. Five Illinois players placed in the top-five of their respective sections. Crosstables
In the Under 10 age group, Shreya Mangalam went undefeated with four victories and two draws. Her 5.0/6 score placed her in a six-way tie for second in the contentious 72-player section.
Caeley Harihara won clear third with a 4.0/6 score in the Under 16. She defeated a Class A-player from Arizona in the fifth round.
The competition was organized by Illinois-based Renaissance Knights, with ICA-member Glenn Panner serving as Chief Tournament Director. The event included six rounds of Game/90 play with a 5-second delay.
USCF Top 100 Lists published April 2013
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 26 April 2013 26 April 2013
Some new names from Illinois have entered the USCF top 100 lists as of the ICA K-8 Championships held in Normal March 9 and 10.
David Zimmermann entered the list of top 7-year olds, Jonah Karafiol nabbed a spot amongst the top US 8-year olds and Emmett Madigan is now in the top century of 9-year olds.
Among high schoolers, Timothy Zhou is now a ranked 16-year old and David Paykin is a top-100 17-year old.
Aaron Gan retains his place as the top Illinois player aged 7 or younger. Amazingly the 6-year old has jumped 253 rating points in two months, placing him in the top 25 of all players 7-and-under. Aaron is actually the fifth-rated 6-year old in the country.
2013 Illinois Barber, Denker and Girls Invitational
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- Written by Jennifer Stevens Jennifer Stevens
- Published: 18 March 2013 18 March 2013
The stage was set for the Barber, Denker and the Girls Invitational at the North Shore Chess Center February 22 -24. There were 6 players for the Denker and the Girls Invitational and 12 for the Barber. Crosstables
Illinois DenkerL to R: Gavin Mc Clanahan, Jonathan Kogen, Sam Schmakel, Robert Mokswa, Maximilian Zinski, Nathaniel Kranjc