The Highland Park chess program ran its first tournament of the year on December 10th, drawing 104 players to Edgewood Middle School. The tournament was unrated and for the first time had a designated section for more advanced players.

The section winners were Ezra Boldizsar (Advanced), Samuel Harris (4-8), Jonas Vriend (2-3) and Andrew Arzac (K-1). Wayne Thomas Elementary School captured the first place team trophy. Team awards are based on a team’s top six scores across all sections. Complete results are posted on the Highland Park program’s website ( www.hpchess.org, Tournaments/Results).

The district-wide program in Highland Park began in 2008. About 400 players participate each year. Highland Park hosts five clubs drawing from its eleven schools, as well as a Saturday program at the Highland Park Library and three annual tournaments.

The program features four tiers of instruction. Each club offers lessons at the beginner, intermediate and advanced level, and there is now a “Level 4” class taught for the district’s top players on Friday afternoons. Most coaches teach with computers and interactive “smart” boards. Coaches are a mix of volunteers and others who are paid, and this year include four titled players (IM Florin Felecan, FM Eric Rosen, NM Adarsh Jayakumar, and NM Gopal Menon) as well as Warren Junior Scholar Jonathan Kogen (2157). Highland Park teams have won 11 awards at Illinois state championships.