Are You Smarter Than THIS 5th Grader? Daniel Zhang Wins Benito Juarez Spring Open at Lozano Library

Fifth Grader Daniel Zhang is on quite a roll lately, going 5-0 at the Greater Chicago Championships in February and 6-1 at the ICA's K-8 Championships in early March.

Daniel kept it rolling by winning the Benito Juarez Spring Open at the Lozano Branch of the Chicago Public Library on March 21.

The five-round, dual-section event observed what would have been the 209th birthday of the five-term president of Mexico. The tournament was sponsored by El Campeon Pina Colada and organized by Hector Hernandez.

In the ages 14 and under section, Layla Rodriguez placed just ahead of Daniel Roman.

Hernandez speaks with pride when it comes to the young Mr. Zhang's progress, observing that Daniel had missed a winning move against the eventual champion at the library's 2014 Chicago Latino Championship. According to Hector, a deftly-timed rook to c7 would have certainly forced a resignation, no doubt changing the outcome of the November event.

Still, Daniel had placed well at the Latino Championship, at one point winning a miniature against a strong opponent playing the Black side of a Sicilian Defense. The excited Daniel shared with Hector after the game,  "I played a move you showed me and I won in ten moves!"

Entering the Juarez event, Daniel held a Class D rating, earning a draw against a Class B player in Round 3, finishing 4.5/5.

Tony Rodriguez, a Class A player, had the top tiebreak in the 4.0/5 score group to take second. SD Prasad and Delano Hom also finished with four points out of five. Prasad had drawn Rodriguez in the second round. 

After the awards ceremony, Hernandez quipped to the winners: "Are you smarter than a fifth grader?"

29 competed in the Open, 11 in the U14. In addition to city dwellers, the tournament attracted youth players from Oak Lawn and Midlothian and an adult from as far away as downstate Rantoul, along with nine students from Leyden High School in Franklin Park.