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Illinois Elementary School Association Recognizes Betsy Zacate for Lifetime Achievement and Jim Aman for Distinguished Service for Chess
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- Written by Jacob Plotnick - Editor in Chief Jacob Plotnick - Editor in Chief
- Created: 10 June 2025 10 June 2025
Illinois Elementary School Association Recognizes Betsy Zacate for Lifetime Achievement and Jim Aman for Distinguished Service for Chess
The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) has long championed extracurricular enrichment across the state, offering students opportunities to grow beyond the classroom through both athletic and academic opportunities to elementary aged students. In 2011, chess officially joined that roster: a quiet but powerful addition that has since nurtured critical thinking, sportsmanship, and community among thousands of young minds. The tournament-style program is unique: individual play, team scoring, and a deliberate emphasis on accessibility. What started as a pilot program has grown into a statewide tradition thanks to a handful of devoted visionaries who saw not just a game, but a chance to shape lives.
His story began, fittingly enough, in a library. As a child growing up in Fort Worth during the height of the Bobby Fischer craze, Jim Aman spotted a Chess Life magazine at the public library while accompanying his mother. Though he didn’t yet know how to play, he was instantly hooked on the mystique of the game. Chess had captured his imagination before it ever captured his mind.
He finally learned to play at 16, taught by a friend at the time. That casual encounter set in motion a journey that would span decades and state lines: from reviving a local club in Texas to becoming a driving force behind Illinois’s growing scholastic chess scene.
In Fort Worth, he restarted the Greater Fort Worth Chess Club and became a tournament director to help it thrive. For a time, he even played competitively. But life moved on: he married, had children, and set the game aside. It wasn’t until his youngest son, then in second grade, wanted to start a school chess team that his passion reignited. Sitting through tournaments as a parent, he realized he could help by directing events again. That decision quickly snowballed into nearly full-time weekend work.
One of his most important early collaborations came through a friendship with fellow Director Grant Perks. Together, they organized major events, including one at the Cincinnati Bengals stadium with around 500 players – a logistical feat that would pave the way for the future. Through Grant, he was introduced to Mike Zacate, a chess pioneer in Illinois involved in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) chess tournament. That connection led to his first invitation to work with IHSA, preparing for a lifetime of involvement in Illinois chess.
But it was in the middle school scene under the IESA where the next chapter would unfold. That initiative had its roots in a family legacy.
For Betsy Zacate, chess wasn’t just a hobby; it was a heritage. Her father had helped found the IHSA chess tournament, and she grew up trailing him at events, absorbing the facets of chess. Taught to play at five, she competed sporadically but gravitated more naturally to directing. Organization came easily, and so did empathy – two key traits emphasized by Betsy for anyone running a tournament where chaos is inevitable.
Eventually, Betsy and Mike began pitching the idea of a middle school state tournament to the IESA. It wasn’t easy. IESA was a small organization with limited resources, and chess didn’t yet have a foothold at that level. “The challenge wasn’t convincing them chess was worthwhile,” Betsy said. “It was proving enough schools would show up.”
They built the foundation through persistence, not pressure. The first events were pilot programs with no entry fees, designed to remove barriers. One year, the venue fell through at the last minute and the tournament had to be relocated to a hockey rink. “It was chaos,” Betsy laughed. “But the kids were excited. Everyone was. That day, we knew we’d started something that mattered.”
The amazing IESA administrators, such as Nicole Schaefbauer helped turn this vision into reality. She has been the IESA Executive Director since 2021 previously the Associate Executive Director from 2001-2021 and before that an Assistant Executive Director 1999-2001. She organized logistics and formed a core committee that included Betsy, Mike, and Jim to help in other facets such as adapting the IHSA rulebook for younger players. They ran the first tournament in 2011, and as the opening round began, there was a spark. “We knew we had started something that was going to continue for a long time,” Jim recalled.
Inaugural IESA Chess Championship
Over the years, IESA chess has grown slowly but deliberately, particularly in rural areas and towns south of Chicago. Unlike the faster pace of major urban leagues, this model of steady expansion builds sustainability. One school might send two students one year, then return with a full team the next. The program has become a feeder for high school chess, seeding long-term interest and keeping the game accessible to kids from every background for extended periods of time.
The human element has always been the most rewarding aspect of being involved in chess. “So many friendships have developed through IESA and IHSA events,” Jim said. “And I love seeing the look on the kids’ faces—watching them grow not just as players, but as people.” Chess, for him, is more than a game. It’s a tradition, a tool for life. “It teaches patience, self-control, critical thinking, and respect for rules,” he reflects. “It keeps the mind active. And it connects kids to something timeless.”
Betsy echoes the sentiment. “In basketball, you can always pass blame. In chess, it’s just you and one other person. You learn to be accountable. To slow down. To think.” She’s proudest not of any specific rulebook or milestone, but of the community they’ve built: coworkers, scorekeepers, parents, and kids who come back year after year, a little older, a little more confident.
Even after stepping back from frequent directing, Betsy remains a fixture. Her background in writing and photography helped document the journey, from event coverage in Chess Life to candid tournament photos. When she received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work, she called it “a delightful surprise.” But the real reward, she says, is knowing that IESA chess will outlive her. “It’s something kids can carry forever.” Likewise for Jim, the achievement of his Distinguished Service Award pales in comparison to the gift IESA has given to every kid involved in the chess program.
Betsy and Jim receiving their awards from IESA
Today, both Betsy and Jim remain committed to the mission: to grow the game, make it inclusive, and nurture the next generation of players, directors, and mentors. Regional tournaments are on the horizon. Looking to the future, more schools might be integrating chess into classrooms: not just as a game but as a developmental tool.
If there’s one lesson they would pass on to others, it’s this: show up. Volunteers, coaches, organizers – every adult who gets involved makes it possible for another kid to benefit. Not everyone will be Bobby Fischer or be the best tournament director, but not everybody needs to; that is the beauty of chess. Everyone can show up with their own skills and interests and make a distinct contribution to the overall chess community, which contributes to the continued success of IESA chess. And if Jim could give his younger self advice? “Be ready for the friendships. That’s what matters most.”
Whether through scholastic chess or other facets of the community, they’ve built a life around community. A life around tradition. A life around the quiet, powerful game of chess. And IESA is working towards bringing this community to kids all throughout the state so they too can become members of this instrumental community.
2025 Illinois Senior State Championship
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- Written by Jacob Plotnick - Editor in Chief Jacob Plotnick - Editor in Chief
- Created: 30 May 2025 30 May 2025
The 2025 Illinois State Senior Championship was held concurrently with our Youth Invitational in Evanston. The tournament featured two sections, Reserve and Open, with the winner of the Open section earning entry into the Senior Tournament at the US Open in Middleton, WI.
Reserve Section
The Reserve Section consisted of sixteen players. Heading into the final round, Craig Sandford and Gee Leong were tied with 3 points out of 4. Since the two faced off in Round 4, they were paired against different opponents in the final round: Craig Sandford defeated Kelvin McAlister while Gee Leong defeated Edward Lozano.
With these victories, both players finished with 4 points, splitting first place.
Shown below is the final cross-table:
Open Section
The Open Section featured twenty players and delivered an exciting finish. Entering the final round two players were tied with 3.5 points out of 4 and two players were tied with 3 points.
In those final games Florentino Inumerable and FM Camillo drew, each finishing with 4 points. Meanwhile, CM Glen Gratz defeated William Brock, creating a three-way tie for first place with 4 points each.
The final cross-table is shown below:
2025 KCF All-Girls National Chess Championship
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- Written by Jacob Plotnick - Editor in Chief Jacob Plotnick - Editor in Chief
- Created: 29 April 2025 29 April 2025
The Illinois Chess Association is proud to congratulate David Heiser from Renaissance Knights for organizing the 20th Annual All-Girls National Chess Championship. The event took place from April 4–6, 2025, at McCormick Place in Chicago. We extend our gratitude to the Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation, the Kasparov Chess Foundation, and the United States Chess Federation for bringing this tournament to Chicago.
The championship was open to girls under 18 years old as of January 1, 2025. Participants competed in the following sections: Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, and Under 18. The champion in each age group earned the honor of representing the USA at the World Cadet (U8, U10, U12) and World Youth (U14, U16, U18) Championships, in accordance with US Chess Scholastic National and International Invitation Events and Awards.
Over 500 players participated in this national event. All games were played with a time control of 90 minutes and a 5-second delay.
Under 18 Championship
We had a very exciting final round with two players entering with 4.5 points out of 5: Iris Mou and Megan Althea Apragua. Close behind them were six players with 4 points: Sophie Li, Aradh Kaur, Stella Xin, Tori Porat, Irene Fei, and Hema Vikas.
In the last round, Iris defeated Irene Fei, and Megan defeated Tori, resulting in both players finishing with 5.5 points out of 6. Megan was awarded first place on tiebreaks.
Photo of Megan courtesy of Eric Ortega
Here are the players who finished with at least 4 points out of 6, listed in tiebreak order. The top 8 players received awards.
Under 16 Championship
The Under 16 section also came down to an exciting final round. Jasmin Su and Chloe Gaw both entered the last round with a perfect 5 out of 5. Jasmin defeated Chloe to become the Under 16 Champion.
Additionally, Eight players entered the final round with 4 points: Evelyn Oiao, Gaofei Wang, Marina Xiao, Emel Bayrambeyli, Aarna Nitton Warekar, Lisa Sun, Patricia Ian, and Fiona Tushman.
Here are the players who finished with at least 4 points out of 6, listed in tiebreak order. The top 8 players received awards.
Under 14 Championship
This section had four players entering the final round with 4.5 points: Audry Zhou, Nethra Vinayagaram, Leah Yang, and Audry Keyan Li. Audry Zhou defeated Audry Keyan Li to become the outright champion with 5.5 points.
Nethra drew with Leah, and Anjyu Fujita and Asha Silva both won their final games to create a four-way tie for second with 5 points.
Here are the players who finished with at least 4.5 points out of 6, listed in tiebreak order. The top 16 players received awards.
Under 12 Championship
Two players entered the final round with perfect scores: Emma Yang and Aadya Kakarla. Emma defeated Aadya to become the Under 12 Champion.
Vaisali Garnepudi and Christine Nguyen both had 4.5 points entering the final round. Vaisali defeated Christine to take clear second place.
Here are the players who finished with at least 4.5 points out of 6, listed in tiebreak order. The top 16 players received awards.
Under 10 Championship
In another thrilling finale, Melanie Liang and Celine Chen entered the last round with perfect scores. Melanie defeated Celine to become the Under 10 Champion.
Wan Oin Li, Allyson Yu, and Elizabeth Zhou had 4.5 points each before the final round. Celine drew with Wan to finish with 5 points, resulting in an eight-way tie for second place with Alexandra Liu, Kayra Ananya Ganesh, Olivia Xu, Diya Balamurugan, and Dana H. Wang.
Here are the players who finished with at least 4.5 points out of 6, listed in tiebreak order. The top 16 players received awards.
Under 8 Championship
In the Under 8 section, Emma Ge entered the last round as the only undefeated player with 5 points. Three players — Emily Jiaying Tang, Irene Lin, and Hanwen Lu — had 4.5 points.
Emily defeated Emma to win the championship, while Irene defeated Hanwen and tied with Emily at 5.5 points. Emily was awarded first place on tiebreaks.
Here are the players who finished with at least 4.5 points out of 6, listed in tiebreak order. The top 16 players received awards.
Illinois Representation
The Illinois Chess Association congratulates the following Illinois players who received awards:
Picture of Stella 4th place Under 18 Courtesy WJS Director Edwin Walker
Picture of Elizabeth 7th place Under 16 Courtesy WJS Director Edwin Walker
Picture of Victoria 9th place Under 14 Courtesy of her family
Picture of Vanshika 14th place Under 14 Courtesy of her family
Picture of Emily 1st place Under 8 Courtesy of her family
Linked here is a complete cross-table for the event, including all individual and team awards, courtesy of Renaissance Knights, and linked here is the US rating report. Following these links, you can view the full results across any sections instead of the abbreviated standings above. Once again, we are happy to congratulate everybody who participated and gave it their best in this tournament and to congratulate David Heiser along with Renaissance Knights for running the tournament so smoothly.
2025 Greater Peoria Open – Fourth ICA Tour event 2025
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- Written by Jacob Plotnick - Editor in Chief Jacob Plotnick - Editor in Chief
- Created: 19 April 2025 19 April 2025
2025 Greater Peoria Open – Fourth ICA Tour event 2025
The Illinois Chess Association is happy to congratulate Patick Cohen and Emily Dawson from Greater Peoria Chess Foundation for running the Greater Peoria Open, our fourth ICA tour event for 2025 from April 12 to 13, 2025 in Peoria, Illinois.
There were a total of 51 players split between reserve and open sections. The tournament consisted of four rounds of game 80 with a 5 second delay.
Courtesy of Greater Peoria Chess Foundation
Open
An exciting finish with two players entering the final round undefeated: Jacob Gregory Butcher had 3.5 points out of 4 games due to a requested bye in Round 3 and Alvin He, with a perfect 4 wins out of 4 games. Jacob finished as the open champion with 4.5 points after defeating Alvin in the final round. Two players ended up with 4 points: Alvin and Jacob Whitten who defeated Bysen Lovel in the final round.
Below are the players that finished with at least two and a half points out of four games:
Reserve
Only one player, Sean Keiya Pepper, entered the last round undefeated with four points. Nolan Collins entered with 3.5 wins out of 4 games. Five players, Daniel Lyman, Dylan Simon, Nabhya Sham, Priya Sadhama Mathanm and Bryce McMillan, entered the final round with 4 points. Afterwards, Sean defeated Nolan to finish with a perfect 5 wins. Daniel and Dylan both won to tie for second place with 4 points.
Here are the players that ended with at least three points out of four games:
Linked here is the US rating report. Following these links, you can view the full results instead of the abbreviated standings above. Linked here are the 2025 Illinois Chess Tour Prizes. Here is a list of all 2025 Illinois Chess Association Tour Schedule. Once again, we are happy to congratulate everybody who participated and gave it their best in this tournament and to congratulate Patrick Cohen and Emily Dawson on running the tournament so smoothly.
Springfield Chess Club hosts our third ICA Tour Event
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- Written by Jacob Plotnick - Editor in Chief Jacob Plotnick - Editor in Chief
- Created: 18 April 2025 18 April 2025
Springfield Chess Club hosts our third ICA Tour Event
On March 29, 2025, the Springfield Chess Club hosted the Springfield March Checkmate Open, third in our ICA tour series. The Springfield Chess Club has a long history dating back to an early printed reference found in the Sangamo Journal in 1835, just 14 years after Springfield was founded and four years before it became the state capital. The current chess club formed in 1929 will be celebrating their centennial anniversary in just four short years.
The Illinois Chess Association is happy to congratulate David Long on running the event which consisted of 34 players in a four round event of Game 60 with a five second delay.
Entering the last round there was a three-way tie with a perfect 3 points: Maddox Todd, Brooks Sonethongkham and Andres Luca Maldonado. Maddox defeated Brooks to win with a perfect 4 points whilst Andrew was defeated by James Healy, who entered the final round with 2.5 points.
A complete rating report can be found at the US Chess Website. Linked here are the 2025 Illinois Chess Tour Prizes. Here is a list of all 2025 Illinois Chess Association Tour Schedule. Once again, we are happy to congratulate everybody who participated and gave it their best in this tournament and to congratulate David Long on running the tournament so smoothly.