60+ Heading to Nashville For US Chess Elementary Nationals; 20 Signed Up for Ice Harbor Midwest Championship in Iowa

 

60 (plus) Illinois juniors are signed up so far for the 2016 Elementary Nationals kicking off May 6 in Nashville, TN. Expert Aydin Turgut (rated 2088) is Illinois' best hope in the K-6 while 1886-rated Arthur Xu is our top-rated K-3 entrant. 

Aren Emrikian, still a kindergartner, is Illinois' top-rated K-1 entry -- officially listed as 1319 but subsequently having eclipsed the 1400 threshold. Aren was the National kindergarten champion at Orlando in December and won the Illinois All-Grade in November.

Dimitar Mardov, holder of an Under 6 National Invitational title, and the recent Grades 2-3 IL Champion, is entered in the K-3.

Peter Zheng is our top-rated K-5 entrant at 1761. As of the May supplement, Peter's rating is 1864.

Aria Hoesley is our highest-rated female representative at 1640.

Two-time state champion Vrishank Ramnath is signed up in the K-3's as is former K-1 National Champion Alex Zhao. 2015 All-Grade champion Nicholas Ladan is signed up for the K-5 Championship.

Layla Rodriguez is our top-rated entrant in the K-6 Under 1000 competition.

Matei Cotofrea is our highest-rated hope in the K-5 Under 900.

Josephine Swan has Illinois' best pre-event rating in the K-3 Under 800 section.

It's not too late to enter: Opryland Resort costs are listed at $148 per night with an $85 entry fee.

The event features seven rounds and nine sections.

For those seeking a national tournament experience a shorter distance from home, the following weekend, May 13-15 is the Ice Harbor Scholastic in Dubuque, Iowa.

Hotel accomodations can be had for $119 at the host hotel which includes four Water Park passes with a $50 entry fee through May 1, $55 until the tournament, and $60 onsite. A nearby Holiday Inn Dubuque has been booked for overflow.

There are numerous section offerings and the trophy array is every bit as impressive as for the national event.

Ice Harbor features seven sections including one specifically for Masters and Experts and another one for non-rated players (who are not necessarily members of the US Chess Federation). The number of rounds to be played varies by section.

Ice Harbor organizer James Hodina wrote in, "In March, I had the good fortune to serve at the K-8 Illinois Championship as a Tournament Director Section Chief.  I saw a lot of amazing chess talent.  I am sure the scholastic chess players coming from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas would enjoy the experience of competition and sportsmanship from the Illinois players."

Fun fact: Nashville is 470 miles from Chicago while it's only 170 miles from Cairo, IL.

Dubuque is 179 miles from Chicago and roughly 16 miles from scenic Galena, IL.

 

Event	US Chess Elementary Nationals	Ice Harbor Midwest Championships
Dates	May 6-8	May 13-15
Site	Nashville, TN	Dubuque, IA
Sections	9	7
Miles from Chicago	470	179
Current Entry Fee	$85	$55
Hotel Rate	$148	$119
Hotel Special Feature	Indoor mote with Touring Riverboat	Indoor Waterpark
Bughouse	Yes	Yes
Blitz	Yes	Yes
Friends and Family tournament	Yes	Yes
Lots of players from other states	Yes	Yes
Trophies too big for some young players to carry	Yes	Yes