Youth News
September 2017 Top 100's: Not-So-Terrible Two's!
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 21 September 2017 21 September 2017
Despite being shut out in the 11-year old ranks, Illinois posted 55 juniors in the top 100 nationwide as of the September ratings, ages 7 through 18. A couple players may have left but the state, but until they update their US Chess membership, we'll still claim them as native sons!
Three Illinois juniors rank number two in their respective age groups, Aren Emrikian (age 7 & under), Dimitar Mardov (age 9) and David Peng (age 14).
Yuvraj Chennareddy had an amazing summer, raising his rating to 1523 as a 7-year old, ranking 14th in the US now.
For the first time in recent memory, Illinois has two players in the top 10 of the same age group with George Li and Alex Bian rated 6th and 7th among US 17-year olds.
The complete September list is posted below. Events submitted prior to August 16 were included in these results.
Arthur Xu, Family, Reflect on World U10 Silver
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 20 September 2017 20 September 2017
At the recent 2017 World Youth in Brazil, Oak Park's Arthur Xu earned the silver medal in the Under 10 competition. With the World Cadets beginning this week, also in South America, Arthur and his supportive family were kind enough to share thoughts with the ICA website.
Arthur became the USA's U10 Official Representative ("OR") when Eric Li became the "Personal Rights" designee from winning a Gold medal in the Pan America Youth in July. As a result of this designation, Arthur received training from GM John Fedorowicz as assigned by US Chess.
Arthur's thoughts on the event: Before I went to Brazil I thought I could have a really good chance to get Top Three.
Illinois' Emrikian is World U8 Champ; Xu Scores U10 Silver
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 31 August 2017 31 August 2017
By virtue of his 11th round victory against fellow-American Abhi Mishra, Aren Emrikian has won the 2017 World Cadet Under 8 competition! Aren finished with 9.0/11.
Playing the black colors, Aren trailed the top-seeded Mishra by a half-point heading into the last round. Aren's victory dropped Mishra into a second place tie at 8.5 with Battulga Tenuunbold of Mongolia who scored a mild upset in Round 11.
In the U10 section, Arthur Xu drew his 11th round match, compiling an 8.5 tally and the Silver Medal for clear second!
Almost Four Dozen Girls in US Top 100's As of 8/17
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- Written by Eva Harrison Eva Harrison
- Published: 24 August 2017 24 August 2017
47 Illinois girls under 18 rank in the top 100 nationwide for their respective ages, 33 holding a rating higher than 1000.
Experts Shreya Mangalam, Marissa Li and Miranda Liu lead the way with ratings over 2000!
Linda Pham has now moved from the Ages 7 & Under to the Age 8's category ranking #27 in the US. Happy belated birthday, Linda! Enkhjin Namuunbayar (Age 8), Lily Meegoda (Age 9), Stella Pashyan (Age 11) and Zhengxin-Cindy Tang (Age 15) earned their first mentions in the Top 100 Girls lists – keep up the progression!
Chicago High Schoolers Creates Chess Documentary
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- Written by Sam Goldman Sam Goldman
- Published: 17 August 2017 17 August 2017
Seniors at the Latin School of Chicago have an opportunity to learn through non-traditional means by completing a senior project focused on their individual passions.
To some students that meant designing a (computerized) virtual reality experience, to others it meant exploring molecular gastronomy, creating a wilderness survival video, or dispelling stereotypes of rap music.
When presented with this opportunity, I immediately knew that mine would somehow revolve around my passion of chess.