Youth Chess News
Chicago Youth Enjoy Three Free Summer Chess Camps
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
Chicago youth had the opportunity to attend one of three free chess camps this summer sponsored by the Chicago Chess Foundation.
The week-long, five-hour-a-day camps were coordinated throughout the city, with the northside camp at the end of June, and westside and southside camps in July.
Adam Geisler organized the camps and serves as both a CCF Board Member and the organization's programming committee chairperson. Geisler is a Chicago Public School teacher and the coach of the successful Bateman Elementary School club which regularly competes as a team in scholastic tournaments.
Jacob Plotnick and Amrutha Venkat Post Top Scores From Illinois at 2016 Iowa Rated Beginners Championship
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
With matching 3.0/5 results, Jacob Plotnick and Amrutha Venkat tallied positive scores at the 2016 Iowa RBO for players rated Under 1200. These were the top scores for Illinois participants in an August 27 event that drew players from nine states.
The time control was Game/30 with a five-second delay meaning it was dual-rated, impacting both US Chess Regular and Quick ratings.
The 54-player competition was won by Iowa middle-schooler Issay Niki who was a perfect five-for-five, raising his rating an impressive 275 points.
New Record: 23 Illinois Juniors Rated Above 2000!
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
With the arrival of downstaters Caleb Denby and Andrew Fei, Illinois now has 23 juniors rated above 2000 as of the August official ratings. Five juniors are rated above 2200 and are considered "Masters". Between 2000 and 2199 is considered "Expert" territory.
Aren Emrikian jumped into the top five of the 7-and-unders (4th) -- and is the top six-year old in the nation.
Dimitar Mardov (7th), Aydin Turgut (4th), David Peng (5th), Jacob Furfine (10th), and George Li (9th) are also in the top 10 of their respective age groups.
Girls in US Top 100 Lists for August, 2016: 44 Active Illinois Players Posted on Elite Lists, Li Striving to Join Liu as Expert
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
44 Illinois girls have managed to earn spots on this month's top 100 lists compiled by US Chess. Unfortunately, Illinois is without a qualifying 18 year old, but managed to have at least two active players on each of the other 11 lists.
Marissa Li is now within 25 points of joining Miranda Liu in the rarefied air of female Experts (rated 2000 or higher).
The lists are based on ratings achieved and processed by the third Wednesday of the prior month, in this case July 20, 2016.
IL Trio Posts 4th Highest Total at Denker, Barber, NGIT
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
The elite team of George Li, Vincent Do and Miranda Liu admirably acquitted themselves at the 2016 Denker, Barber and National Girls Invitational Tournaments.
The competition concluded August 3 in Indianapolis, IN, including entries from all but four states while adding back a second team from California and an entry from Washington, DC.
The Illinois-based trio tied for fourth place with 12.5/18 combined, the same score as Wisconsin and Oklahoma, a half-point behind third place Virginia and 1.5 points behind the champion New Jersey squad.