Youth Chess News
Aydin Turgut Wins National K-5 Championship in Dallas
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
A half-point. Doesn't sound like much, does it? Fighting through fatigue to close out a win when others might have accepted a draw. Sacrificing into a complex mating net versus accepting a safe route to an even game. That's half a point.
For Mount Zion fourth-grader Aydin Turgut, a half-point was the distance between his score and a pack of nine others at the USCF's National Elementary Championship's K-5 section held May 9-11 in Dallas, TX. And that half-point means that once again, Aydin is a USCF National Champion!
This was not Aydin's first USCF Championship rodeo: he won the K-1 National Championship in 2011 and was K-3 National Champion in 2013. As documented in my prior Dallas write up, Aydin won the K-6 Blitz earlier in the weekend, tying one other at 10.5/12 with the higher tiebreak.
Illinois Showing Well at Dallas Nationals; Turgut wins Blitz
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
Illinois representatives are holding their own at the USCF Elementary Nationals concluding today in Dallas. A record 2200 players had pre-registered, with Illinois players in each of the four championship sections still in contention for high honors.
The Land of Lincoln has already claimed hardware in the K-6 Blitz event. With 132 players competing, 4th-grader Aydin Turgut posted one of the two top scores, 10.5/12. On tiebreaks, Aydin earned the championship trophy. Jacob Furfine and Emmett Madigan finished 8.0/12, in a pack tied for 17th place. Entering the competition, Aydin and Jacob had the two highest Blitz ratings of the field.
In the K-5 main event, Aydin resumes play today facing Arizona fifth-grader Rick Sun. Along with California's David Pan, Aydin and Sun have the section's only 5.0/5 perfect scores.
Illinois Youth in USCF Top 100 -- April 2014
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
Age is just a number. Right?
Chess is one of those fascinating activities in which, with a modicum of determined study, children can compete on a level playing field with adults.
And then there is another level of ability where the youngster exceeds the average adult’s capabilities and keeps on going.
Illinois is honored to host two remarkable juniors at this time whom at age 10, are not only the nation’s second-rated player of their respective age and gender, but are also the top-rated players in the state aged 16 or younger.
Marissa Li Wins U12 at 2014 All-Girls Nationals
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
Marissa Li has won her Under 12 section of the 2014 National All-Girls competition completed today in Northbrook, IL.
Achieving the lone 5.5/6 score in the 74-player section, Marissa entered the event having boosted her USCF-rating nearly 400-points since competing in the 2013 All-Girls and over 800-points since the 2012 All-Girls.
By virtue of her section championship, Marissa qualifies to represent the USA at the World Youth Championships to be held in South Africa late in the year.
In the Under 14 section, Long Grove's Miranda Liu took home the third place award on tiebreaks, tying for second place with 5.0/6.
Niles North Top U1600 Team at HS Nationals; 2nd in U1200
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
Niles North High School claimed the Under 1600 Championship at the USCF Nationals concluded April 6 in San Diego. The team tied with a Miami high school with 18.0 points, but had the higher tiebreak.
The Skokie-based high school just missed another championship by half a point, placing second in the Under 1200 section behind a Virginia team.
Lisle-based Benet Academy placed fifth in the U1200, with Oak Lawn's Richard's High School taking tenth place.
In the Under 800 section, Richards placed second on tiebreaks, tying with the champions from Texas.