Youth Chess News
Orland Park's Sandburg High School Tops SWSC
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
Sandburg High School managed to win all four of its team matches to claim the Southwest Suburban Conference end-of-season tournament championship in competition conducted January 31.
Tying for second with 3.0/4 scores was Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln-Way North (Frankfort) and Joliet West, with H-F taking second on the higher tiebreaks.
Heading into the final round, Sandburg and North were the undefeated teams, with the Orland Park squad upending the Frankfort school 43.5-24.5 with wins from Joshua Kolodziejczyk (Board 1), Jacob Colby (Board 5), Sebastian Kwiatek (Board 6), Erik Herold (Board 7) and Chase Fortin (Board 8). Sandburg's Boards 5 through 8 all won top honors in the conference event.
The SWSC includes 14 schools.
Illinois Youth in USCF Top 100 as of January 2015
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- Written by Bill Feldman, data compiled by Chris Wellendorf Bill Feldman, data compiled by Chris Wellendorf
22! Illinois now boasts 22 youth with USCF regular ratings of 2000 or higher with four Masters and 18 Experts.
A pair of 14-year olds was the key to these new totals; George Li earned his Master title and Daniel Bronfeyn is now in Expert territory as of the January 2015 official ratings. With fellow 14-year old Jack Curcio climbing to 1998, it's likely this group will have company very soon. (See note below)*
Also entering new class distinction this month was 12-year old Ishaar Ganesan who raised his rating 88 points to enter Class A status. 7-year old Alex Zhao bumped his rating 79 points, entering Class D territory.
Sterling Nabs NICL Conference Tournament
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
Northern Illinois Chess League's 2013-14 tournament co-champions Sterling and Rockford Jefferson were back at it January 31 in Freeport. The two high schools were the lone undefeated teams heading into the final round of the 2014-15 NICL tournament.
Shortly after Board One's Logan Rodgers (Jefferson) and Dylan Kenney (Sterling) agreed to a draw, the teams were neck and neck with Sterling holding a slight edge. All Sterling needed was a draw in the final match on fifth board to secure the championship. Without consultation, Sterling's Jacob Kyritz-Dennis boldly declined Ozzy Flores' draw offer and played on.
When Kryitz-Dennis checkmated Flores there were team hugs all around as Sterling took the match and the tournament championship, with Jefferson placing second on tiebreaks.
200 Rockford-Area Youth Face The Challenge at RESA
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
Just shy of 200 competitors faced off in three sections at the 2015 Winter Rockford Challenge.
The January 31 tournament was hosted by Rockford Environmental Science Academy and brought together entrants from 28 schools.
The Rockford Challenge -- created by Chuck Beach -- entered its 17th year of existence.
Seven players -- five from Washington Academy -- managed to win all five of their games.
Illinois Youth in USCF Top 100 as of December 2014
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
In the game of Blackjack, 21 is a winning number. When it comes to youth chess, the Land of Lincoln has hit the lucky number -- but may not be satisfied to stand pat.
For the first time in history, Illinois now boasts 21 juniors rated 2000 or higher! With 9 more at 1900 or higher, 2015 may see that 21 and raise it!
With Arthur Xu's ascendency among the 7-and-unders, the Prarie State has four top 5 players in their respective age group.
As 2014 draws to a close, Illinois has 22 youth among the top 35 of their respective age group irrespective of gender, 31 among the top 50, and 56 active players among the top 100 in the 15 relevant lists.