Our school’s chess teams had a successful run at the end of the season with strong performances at the CPS Southside Playoffs and the CPS City Finals. There were two teams representing Keller at the City Finals. One team played in the K-4 Section, while the other squad competed in the K-6 Section. Each of these two teams earned 2^nd place in their respective group. Our K-4 team was only a half point behind the first-place team, while our K-6 group was two points back from the top finisher.

Our K-4 team players were H. Lin -tied for 1^st-2^nd in the individual standings, got 2^nd on tiebreaks-, J. Chan, R. Bockenholt, M. McGuire and K. Bockenholt. The K-6 players were D. McGuire, G. Tcheng, I. Chan-Osborn, S. Viniak and D. Clarke.

The following schools claimed first place to become city champions: K-4, Skinner North; K-6, Lincoln and K-8, Whitney Young Academic Center. Justin Zhang -a former Keller pupil- took the first-place individual trophy in this last group.

Two weeks earlier, our K-4 and K-6 teams were crowned Southside Champions as each collected a first-place trophy at the CPS Southside Playoffs. This achievement qualified them to participate in the City Finals.

At the playoffs, the K-4 team consisted of H. Lin -2nd place individual trophy-, R. Bockenholt -5^th-, J. Chan, M. McGuire, K. Bockenholt, V. Huang, Y. Yang, A. Doshi, C. Ng, K. Situ, O. Xie, V. Walter, and P. Anand.

The K-6 team school representatives were I. Chan-Osborn -1st place individual trophy-, S. Viniak -2^nd-, G. Tcheng -3^rd-, D. McGuire and D. Clarke. Going into the final round of the tournament, our top three players had perfect 4-0 scores. I. Chan-Osborn won to finish the tournament at 5-0, while S. Viniak and G. Tcheng drew against each other.

Kinzie Elementary got first place in the K-8 Section at the Southside Playoffs. Team members: I. Patel-Garcia -1st place individual trophy-, G. Luna -2^nd-, A. Norbut -4^th-, G. Ortiz, and M. Norbut.

Hector R. Hernandez is a coach at both Keller and Kinzie schools. He was on hand at both tournaments to provide game analysis and encouragement to the players. At Keller, coach Hernandez provides instruction for intermediate and advanced players. These pupils are highly motivated to learn chess theory and practice as well as strategy and tactics. Keller’s beginning chess players, who are always eager to learn new tactics, are coached by ICA -Illinois Chess Association- Executive Board Member/Officer Josh Flores. Other contributors to the success of Keller’s chess program are coach Edwin Walker and the University of Chicago Chess Club.

Congratulations to the Keller Kids who bring recognition to their school. Special thanks to Kit Tcheng and Shelby Hu -from the Keller Athletic Association- for their hard work in coordinating the chess program, to the rest of the chess parents, and to our administrative supporters - Principal Chalese A. Conley Dunbar and Assistant Principal Peter R. Davis.