News

Chess Pieces of April 2014

On April 26th, over 60 chess players met in Conshohocken for the Chess Pieces of April tournament. In the K-6 U200 section, Max Li took first place with a perfect 4.0 score. In the K-6 U500 section, Justin Lam also scored a perfect 4.0 to capture first place. In a close race, Alan Shi managed to secure the K-12 U800 section with a 3.5 score for the day. Finally, Ram Singh took first place with 3.0 in the K-12 Championship section. Congratulations to all our participants!!

The 2014 Pawn's March

On March 29th, 91 chess players met in Conshohocken for The Pawn's March tournament. In the U200 section, Kameren Jouhal won first place with the perfect score of 4.0. In the U500 section, David Deroo-Kury took the section with a score of 3.5. The U800 section was won by Jaiwon Paik with a perfect score of 4.0. Finally, in the Championship section, Ram Singh scored a perfect 4.0 to win first place. Big thanks and congratulations to all of our chess players who braved the rain to come out!!

7th Annual State Warm-Up

One hundred and twenty-one players came out for the 7th Annual State Warm Up held February 22, 2014 at Mother Teresa in KOP.  This event is usually the biggest event of the year as many people get ready for the State Championship, held 2 weeks from now in Carlisle (2015 will be in Lancaster.)

       In the Under 200 section, Jay Laird won with a perfect 4 - 0 score, just edging out Justin Lam and Paul Stricker.  Lam and Stricker each had 3 wins and a draw.  In the Under 500 section, Evan Liddy and Ethan Soloway both scored a perfect 4 - 0.  Evan took first on tiebreaks.  In third place, Matthew Enders had 3 wins and a draw.  In the Under 800 section, Sriraj Kallat and Nolan McCloskey both scored a perfect 4 - 0, with Sriraj winning first on tiebreaks.  In the Championship section, Aneesh Raparla was the only perfect score, and thus won the section 4 - 0.  The section was very competitive and 2nd and 3rd were the only two other players with three wins.  These were Michael Bai and Caleb Zhang respectively.
        In two weeks, many of the tournament participants, and a few Shining Knights students who were not at the tournament will try to win state titles and trophies.  We hope they all have a good time and wish them the best of luck in their games.

December Crush

     On December 7, 2013, 91 players participated in the December Crush tournament in Conshohocken.  In the Under 200 section, Derek Qin and Bruno Basner both scored a perfect 4 - 0 (Qin won 1st place on tiebreaks.)  Shawn Beigian came in 3rd with a 3.5 - 0.5 score.  The top team was Hillside Elementary with 8.5 points.  In the Under 600 section, Harisankar Radhakrishna scored the only perfect score.  Places 2nd through 9th were all taken by kids scoring 3 - 1.  The top scoring middle school was The Philadelphia School, with 9.5.  In the Championship section, Leo Berg scored a perfect 4 - 0 to capture 1st place.  River Travis Lawson and Kian Jamasbi scored 3.5 - 0.5 to share 2nd and 3rd place.  River Travis earning 2nd on tie breaks.  Skyview, which has a team trophy in every event this fall, won the team trophy with a score of 11.5.
         We look forward to seeing everyone at the 7th Annual State Warm - Up in King of Prussia on February 22nd.   There will even be new sections for the event - Under 200, Under 500, Under 800 and Championship.
         Hope everyone has Happy Holidays!

2013 Scholastic Tournament

 

                On November 9th, 2013, 87 players met to decide the 2013 Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Championship.  In the K-12 section, no one escaped unscathed, but Teddy Willis, was nicked for only a draw and won the event with a 3.5 – 0.5 score.  Three Pocono Mountain East High School players tied for 2nd – 4th with a 3.0 – 1.0 score.  They were Andy Weng, Sean Crowley, and Alex Quirindongo.  Pocono Mountain East High School won the team competition with a score of 11.5. 

                In the K-6 section, Jeffrey Gong and David Sang, both of Skyview Elementary, scored a perfect 4 – 0 with Gong taking the title on tiebreakers.  Ram Singh finished 3rd with a score of 3.5 – 0.5.  Skyview having two players with a perfect score, it is not surprising that they won the team category with 14.0 points. 

                In the K – 3 section, Aneesh Raparla (for the 2nd time) and Chase Vitulich tied for first with perfect scores.  Seven players tied for 3rd to 9th with 3 points.  The top team was Hillside Elementary with 7.5 points.

 

The Autumn Knight Tournament

              The Shining Knights tournament season start in Lansdale on October 19th.  This event, The Autumn Knight, had over 70 students participate.  In the Under 200 section, Unrated Nikhil Rangppagari scored a perfect 4 – 0 score.  He was closely followed by 7 players who scored 3 – 1.  The top team was Friends Select with 6.0 points.

                In the Under 600 section, Vineeth Gabbireddy and David Sang both scored a perfect 4 – 0 with Gabbireddy taking the title on tiebreakers.  Places 3 to 8 were all covered by players who scored 3 – 1.  The top team was Skyview Elementary with 12.5 points.

                In the Championship section, Tate Park edged out four players with 3, by winning 3 games and tying one.   The top team was The Philadelphia School with 7.5 points.

 

Scholastic Quad Tournament

On June 8th, 2013, 24 players met in Newtown for our Scholastic Quads Tournament. The 1st place winners of the rated quads were as follows: Ohm Shah with 2 points, Tejas Shah with 3 points, Arya Nagaraja with 3 points, Pranav Shah with 3 points, and Ian Zwall with 3 points. In our only Unrated quad, Christina Williamson won with 2 points. Congratulations to all of our participants!!

And thank you to Smoothie King of Newtown for their support and gift certificates