Youth Chess News
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.
Benet Academy, Whitney Young 1-2 Atop 12th Grade Nationals, Max Zinski Wins 2014 K-12 Blitz Championship
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
By the slimmest of margins, one-half of one point, Lisle-based Benet Academy won the USCF National Grade 12 Championships in Orlando, FL at the competition completed December 14.
Benet's Max Zinski and Nate Kranjc both contributed 5.0/7 scores as they both tied for 5th place in the 66-player section. Grant Zozeny contributed a critical 4.0 score to round out the team result.
Whitney Young's Jimi Akintonde also participated in the 7-way tie for fifth place with his own 5.0 result. Oliver Natarajan chimed in with 4.5 -- good for a 12th place tie -- and Linden Kerr added 4.0 to the team tally.
All totalled, nine Illinois entrants placed in the top 10 of the main event's 13 sections. Over 1500 players competed in the three day event.
Friends, Lend Me Your Ears: Roman Wins 2014 Chicago Latino Scholastic Championship
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
Ricky Roman won all five of his matches to top all comers in the age 14-and-under section of the 22nd Chicago Latino Championships.
The one-day tournament was organized by Hector Hernandez and was hosted at the Lozano Branch of the Chicago Public Library in the historic Pilsen neighorhood November 29. 31 players competed in the scholastic section of the tournament which has a powerful legacy dating back to 1993. Results for the Open Section were unavailable as of presstime.
Roman defeated Zabdiel Green in the final round to seal the championship. Green finished in a four-way tie for second with Layla Rodriguez, Christopher Gora and Terasence Mitten.