744 Compete in Largest K-8 State Championships in a Decade

Congrats to Benjamin Chen, Yuvraj Rudra, Avi Harrison Kaplan, Colin Robert Wicks, and Ryan Zhang. Benjamin and Yuvraj are co-champions after both scored 6.5 points in the junior high section. Benjamin won first place on tiebreaks.

All five are now Illinois state champions thanks to their outstanding performances at the 2018 Illinois K-8 Championships completed March 11th in Schaumburg, IL. This tournament, with 744 participants, was the largest K-8 State Championships held in the last decade.

Led by Benjamin Chen, Daniel Wright Junior High School from Lincolnshire was the clear winner of the Junior High team championship by beating out Evans Junior High from Bloomington by one point.

In the Elementary section, Decatur Classical Elementary was the clear winner with 21.5 points. Led by state champion Avi Harrison Kaplan, Decatur Classical edged out Colene Hoose Elementary by one and a half points.

In Upper Primary, Colene Hoose Elementary prevailed over Glen Grove Elementary, winning the top award by just a half point.

In the Lower Primary (Grades K-1), Avery Coonley School repeated as team state champions by beating Grove Elementary School by two and half points.

Special thanks to Glenn Panner from Chess Weekend for organizing and his staff for running a phenomenal event. Complete results are posted here. If players or parents have any feedback on the event that they would like included in the ICA report, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Next year’s Illinois K-8 State Championship will be hosted by BNASC at the ISU Bone Student Center on March 9-10.