Youth Chess News
Denker, Barber, Girls Invitational Held at ChessIQ In Skokie
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- Written by Pattie Zinski Pattie Zinski
Three youth invitationals organized by the ICA Warren Junior Program were held March 14th and 15th at ChessIQ under the direction of TD Sevan Muradian.
Top Illinois high school, elementary and girls players competed for an opportunity to represent the state at the National Barber, Denker and Girls competitions staged in conjunction with the 2015 U.S. Open.
In addition to winning the right to compete at the corresponding national event, each section winner received $250 towards chess lessons and a $500 travel stipend. Runners up also received $250 towards coaching. Prizes were made possible by a generous grant from the Walter S. Mander Foundation.
Illinois Youth in USCF Top 100 as of February 2015
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- Written by Bill Feldman, data compiled by Chris Wellendorf Bill Feldman, data compiled by Chris Wellendorf
Arthur Xu moved up one notch to become the second highest-rated seven and under player in America, joining 11 year-old David Peng with that distinction. 18-year old Sam Schmakel continues as the third highest 18-year old in the US. Marissa Li is the seventh-rated female under age 13, Aydin Turgut is eighth among 10 year-olds, and Jacob Furfine is tied for 9th among American 13 year olds.
Congratulations to Jack Curcio for hitting 2000 giving Illinois 21 junior experts and masters.
Sadly, the 19th birthdays of Duncan Shepherd and Joe Fennessey, both experts and long-time members of these top 100 lists, means the state total actually drops by one. We also bid so long to Edgar Talayko, a Class A player, who only recently joined the lists.
Also celebrating birthdays as of the February lists were Tom Bareket, Vincent Do, Jonathan Tan, George Li, Anshul Adve, Spencer Lehmann, Gavin McClanahan, and Eli Goering.
Furfine, Ramnath Perfect at 2015 K-8 Championships at ISU, Prabu and Mardov Also Clear Winners at 6.5/7
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
571 competed in four sections at the 2015 Illinois K-8 Championships completed March 8 in Normal, IL. All four sections had at least 100 entries with the Upper Primary (Grades 2-3) fielding 182 competitors.
Jacob Furfine defeated his bughouse partner Vincent Do in the seventh round to claim the Junior High championship. The two USCF Experts had partnered to win the bughouse competition held March 6.
Illinois hosts seven juniors rated above 2000 who were eligible for this competition, but Furfine and Do were the only two entering. In fact, Illinois' top-rated players from ages 7 through 12 (as of February ratings) were all notably absent from the event.
Normal's Chiddix Wins 2 of 3 Sections at IESA Championships, Jason Daniels, Hanson Hao and Vincent Do Perfect at 7.0/7
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
Chiddix Junior High of Normal won both the sixth and eighth grade championships at the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) championships concluded February 28.
The two-day event was held at the Bone Center on the campus of ISU in Normal. Results are posted here.
Chiddix took second in the 7th grade competition, losing out to Bloomington Evans, 27.0-25.5.
Naperville North Claims 2014-15 IHSA Crown Over Stevenson, USCF-Unrated Yuki Nojima of Hersey Lone Perfect Board One
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
With five boards completed in the seventh round, Stevenson needed just one more win from one of its three top boards to secure the 2015 IHSA title.
Stevenson (of Lincolnshire) and Naperville North were the final two undefeateds heading into the last games of the two-day tournament in Peoria.
But when North's Bradley Guan managed a draw against Lincolnshire's Alex Bian on Board One, and Mark Reed and Matthew Wu prevailed on Boards Two and Three, it was the Naperville team claiming the 2015 IHSA Chess Championship.