The first day of the National K-12 Chess Championship is in the books and more than half the field of players can no longer contend for a National Championship. Two California six-year-olds are still in contention to bring home the ultimate prize. Both Rishith Susarla and Milind Maiti scored a perfect two wins out of two rounds. Tomorrow they will play three games and need three wins to keep their dreams alive. If they can manage to stay undefeated through day two, Milind and Rishith will need to win two more games on Sunday. Based on my experiences with Milind Maiti and Rishith Susarla, I feel it is very likely that one or both of them will remain undefeated through the three grueling days.
Archive for the ‘National K-12 Chess Championship’ Category
National K-12 Chess Championship 2011, Day 1
November 19, 2011National K-12 Chess Championship 2011
November 18, 2011Dallas, Texas is being bombarded by young chess players with dreams of national championships. Texans should not be alarmed by children armed with weighted chess pieces because November 18 – 20 is the 2011 United States Chess Federation’s National K-12 Chess Championships.
The USCF National K-12 Chess Championship is the premier grade-level chess tournament in the United States. Chess players in grade 12 or below compete for three days in thirteen sections to determine the best school-aged chess players in America. Chess players in identical grades from the same school will also be competing for team standings.
This year I have fewer students participating do to the fact that the World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil starts on the same day. Its unfortunate that the USCF and Fide would schedule championship tournaments that conflict with eachother. Even with the double scheduling, California will have several strong players representing the state.
Two of my favorite six-year-olds will be in attendance. Milind Maiti of Cupertino went undefeated at the 2011 National Elementary Chess Championship and also finished first at the 2011 National Junior Chess Congress. Rishith Susarla of Fremont has worked as hard as any of my chess students for the last sixth months. Underrated at 1454, Rishith seems poised to win his first National Championship. Milind and Rishith are good friends and will likely rise to chess stardom aided by eachother’s successes.
Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2011: Preview 1
April 28, 2011The 2011 Fremont Summer Chess Camp at Mission San Jose Elementary School offers students from around the Bay Area an opportunity to train with the players and coaches of the Mission San Jose Elementary School chess team. Our chess team has had unrivaled success at State Championship events and in 2009 became the first California school to ever win the National Elementary Chess Championship. At the 2010 Calchess Grade Level Chess Championship the team from Mission San Jose Elementary School won first place in five out of the six grades that we were eligible to compete in. The Mission San Jose Elementary Chess Team also dominated at the 2011 Calchess Scholastic Chess Championships by placing first in two of the three sections we participated in. Make the right move by signing your child up for the 2011 Fremont Summer Chess Camp at Mission San Jose Elementary School.
Don’t be fooled by imposters. There is only one summer chess camp managed by the chess coaches from Mission San Jose Elementary School. Visit ChessAndMusic.com to reserve a spot for your child.
Check Maiti
December 16, 2010
Milind Maiti with his chess coach, Chris Torres.
Milind Maiti with his Sister, Mother and trophy from the Nationals.
California has a new chess star and his name is Milind Maiti. On 12/4/2010 Milind won five out of five games in the kindergarten section at the Calchess Grade Level Championship in Stockton, California. The following weekend, young Mr. Maiti finished with a score of 5.5/7 in the kindergarten section at the USCF National K-12 Championship in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This performance was good enough to tie for third place in Milind Maiti’s first National Chess Championship. Milind Maiti’s performance in these two tournaments has had the effect of changing the chess vernacular at Collins Elementary School in Cupertino, California. Now when attendees of the Collins Chess Club checkmate one another we say “check Maiti!”
National K-12 Championship: Day 3
December 13, 2010Congratulations are in order for three Torres Chess and Music Academy students from Northern California who attended the 2010 USCF National K-12 Chess Championship in Florida from December 10-12. Milind Maiti, Chenyi Zhao and Ben Rood traveled across the country to this tournament less than one week after competing in the Calchess Grade Level Chess Championship in Stockton, California.
All three of these amazing kids played admirably and finished the National K-12 Championship with more wins than losses. Milind Maiti tied for third in the Kindergarten section with a score of 5.5/7. Chenyi Zhao tied for 26th in the first grade section with a score of 4/7. Also in the first grade section, Ben Rood tied for 9th with a score of 5/7.
National K-12 Championship: Day One Update
December 11, 2010
Two talented young chess players from Northern California achieved perfect results on the first day of the 2010 USCF National Grade Level Championship in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Despite playing the best competition the United States has to offer, kindergartener Milind Maiti and first grader Ben Rood outplayed their opposition with the ease one would expect from seasoned professionals. This accomplishment is even more impressive given the fact that six days earlier both Milind Maiti and Ben Rood played five hard games to become California Grade Level Chess Champions.
For more information on Milind Maiti and Ben Rood see: On The Eve of Greatness
On the Eve of Greatness: Three California Chess Prodigies Competing in their First National Chess Championship
December 10, 2010Tomorrow three of my favorite chess students will begin play at the 2010 National K-12 Chess Championship in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. As the President of the Torres Chess and Music Academy, I have had the distinct pleasure of coaching many of the top ranking scholastic chess players in the United States and can comfortably state that the three players described below are among the finest young chess players I have ever coached.
In 2009, then Chinese citizen Chenyi Zhao impressed her Country by placing very highly at a prestigious chess tournament in Beijing. Although only 5, it seemed Chenyi was destined to be placed in a state run chess school for the extremely gifted. Within a few short months, Chenyi Zhao had immigrated to the United States and found herself in Fremont, California attending chess classes run by the Torres Chess and Music Academy. Chenyi is now considered one of the top chess players for her age in California and a serious contender for a top place finish at the 2010 National Scholastic Chess Championship.
Milind Maiti appeared in the Collins Elementary School Chess Team in September of 2010. Because the Collins Chess Team is run by the Torres Chess and Music Academy, it was no small accomplishment that Milind progressed to the “Advanced” class by week two. Milind posseses natural tactical abilities that are beyond anything one would expect from a Kindergartener. He is truly a chess prodiogy of the highest level and will be a contender in the 2010 National Scholastic k-12 chess championship.
For months before I received the fateful email, I had been eyeing Ben Rood’s chess games with the opinion that Ben was destined to be a national chess champion. (Having worked with several national chess champions and one world chess champion, I tend to gauge talent very accurately.) Aproximately eight months after I first noticed Ben Rood, his mother emailed me inquiring about private chess lessons for Ben. It turned out that Ben was only willing to accept private chess lessons from Chris Torres. I immediately accepted and now train with Ben Rood weekly in Walnut Creek. Observing Ben Rood’s growth under my tutoring for the past few months is exceptionally rewarding and I feel blessed to be a part of his learning process. In fact, chess comes so easily for Ben Rood that it is my professional opinion that Magnus Carlsen should start preparing for him immediately!
In conclusion, should any child be unfortunate enough to sit across from Chenyi Zhao, Milind Maiti or Ben Rood at the 2010 National K-12 Chess Championship…they should be verrrry afraid!
Don’t hesitate to sign your child up for chess classes run by the Torres Chess and Music Academy. For more information be sure to visit www.ChessAndMusic.com
On the Eve of Greatness: Three California Chess Prodigies Competing in their First National Chess Championship
December 10, 2010Tomorrow three of my favorite chess students will begin play at the 2010 National K-12 Chess Championship in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. As the President of the Torres Chess and Music Academy, I have had the distinct pleasure of coaching many of the top ranking scholastic chess players in the United States and can comfortably state that the three players described below are among the finest young chess players I have ever coached.
In 2009, then Chinese citizen Chenyi Zhao impressed her Country by placing very highly at a prestigious chess tournament in Beijing. Although only 5, it seemed Chenyi was destined to be placed in a state run chess school for the extremely gifted. Within a few short months, Chenyi Zhao had immigrated to the United States and found herself in Fremont, California attending chess classes run by the Torres Chess and Music Academy. Chenyi is now considered one of the top chess players for her age in California and a serious contender for a top place finish at the 2010 National Scholastic Chess Championship.
Milind Maiti appeared in the Collins Elementary School Chess Team in September of 2010. Because the Collins Chess Team is run by the Torres Chess and Music Academy, it was no small accomplishment that Milind progressed to the “Advanced” class by week two. Milind posseses natural tactical abilities that are beyond anything one would expect from a Kindergartener. He is truly a chess prodiogy of the highest level and will be a contender in the 2010 National Scholastic k-12 chess championship.
For months before I received the fateful email, I had been eyeing Ben Rood’s chess games with the opinion that Ben was destined to be a national chess champion. (Having worked with several national chess champions and one world chess champion, I tend to gauge talent very accurately.) Aproximately eight months after I first noticed Ben Rood, his mother emailed me inquiring about private chess lessons for Ben. It turned out that Ben was only willing to accept private chess lessons from Chris Torres. I immediately accepted and now train with Ben Rood weekly in Walnut Creek. Observing Ben Rood growth under my tutoring for the past few months is exceptionally rewarding and I feel blessed to be a part of his learning process. In fact, chess comes so easily for Ben Rood that it is my professional opinion that Magnus Carlsen should start preparing for him immediately!
In conclusion, should any child be unfortunate enough to sit across from Chenyi Zhao, Milind Maiti or Ben Rood at the 2010 National K-12 Chess Championship…they should be verrrry afraid!
Don’t hesitate to sign your child up for chess classes run by the Torres Chess and Music Academy. For more information be sure to visit www.ChessAndMusic.com
Chess Musings 