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The 2014 Class of Warren Junior Chess Scholars has been announced with 48 qualifiers, 32 in Grades K-8, 16 in High School.

Six are female, nine are from downstate. 15 have never been Scholars before, three are returning to the program after brief absences. 48 participants represents a leap from 37 qualifiers in 2013 and 36 in 2012.

According to Warren Director Pattie Zinski, "The Warren Junior program sponsors  unique training and playing opportunities for its Scholars, including quarterly clinics, subsidies for select summer camps and invitational playing events."

Warren Scholars are selected based on national rankings on the USCF Top 100 lists published monthly. At the present time, program qualifiers must have been in the Top 35 of their age group on at least one list in the prior qualifying year, or achieved a certain minumum rating:

The qualifying year runs from March of the prior year through February of the selection year. In that final month (February), the Top 35 criteria is relaxed to Top 50.

Other than for those active on an interscholastic high school team, participants must also have played a minimum of ten USCF-rated games outside of scholastic competition at a regular time control in the qualifying year.

Zinski congratulates the incoming class and looks forward to their participation throughout 2014 and into early 2015. 

Scholar Name Age City   Scholar Name High School / City
Aaron Gan (new) 7 Vernon Hills   Anshul Adve University Lab School
Martin Stukan (new) 8 Buffalo Grove   Jimi Akintonde (returning) Whitney Young, Chicago
Brian Gong (new) 9 Naperville   Joe Fennessey (new) Marist, Chicago
Stefan Musikic 9 Chicago   Eli Goering (new) Evanston Township
Aydin Turgut 9 Decatur   Caeley Harihara Walter Payton, Chicago
Jason Daniels 10 Normal   Zachary Holecek Loyola
Shreya Mangalam 10 South Barrington   Jonathan Hrach (returning) Highland Park
David Peng 10 Wilmette   Jonathan Kogen Deerfield
Advaith Prabu (new) 10 Bloomington   Nate Kranjc Benet Academy
Ricky Wang (new) 10 Buffalo Grove   Spencer Lehmann Barrington
Eddie Zhang (new) 10 Palatine   Gavin Mc Clanahan Glenbrook South
Vincent Do 11 Rockford   Sam Schmakel Whitney Young
Marissa Li (new) 11 Streamwood   Duncan Shepherd (new) Lake Forest
Tej Rai (new) 11 Carol Stream   Penny Xu Urbana
Jacob Furfine (new) 12 Wilmette   Tim Zhou (new) Illinois Math & Science Academy
Hanson Hao 12 Bloomington   Max Zinski Benet Academy
Akhil Kalghatgi 12 Chicago      
Nikhil Kalghatgi 12 Chicago      
Miranda Liu 12 Buffalo Grove      
Rishi Narayanan (new) 12 Hoffman Estates      
Matthew Stevens 12 Hinsdale      
Jonathan Tan 12 Mundelein      
Nicholas Bartochowski (new) 13 Palatine      
Alex Bian 13 Lincolnshire      
Daniel Bronfeyn 13 Mundelein      
Jack Curcio 13 Park Ridge      
Andrew Fei 13 Peoria      
Ian Gilchrist 13 Marion      
Blair Hu 13 Bloomington      
George Li 13 Glenview      
Shayna Provine 13 Plainfield      
James Wei (returning) 13 Buffalo Grove