All three Illinois Youth Invitational Championships were held March 26 and 27 at the North Shore Chess Center. Trevor Magness joins Kayin Barclay and Yelena Gorlin as a two-time winner of the Illinois High School Invitational Championship title. As in 2009, Trevor will represent Illinois in the Denker Tournament of High School Champions. After losing to freshman Sam Schmakel in round 2, Trevor reeled off consecutive wins against Michael Auger, Jonathan Kogen, and NM Eric Rosen to take clear first with a 4-1 score.

I expect Tommy Ulrich to earn his master title soon. He was leading the tournament until losing to Rosen in round 4, and took second on tiebreaks with 3½-1½. NM Adarsh Jayakumar was essentially eliminated from contention after being held to half a point by Kogen and Rosen in the first two rounds, but won out to tie for second with Ulrich.

Defending champion Eric Rosen, day one co-leader Sam Schmakel, and Michael Auger finished with 3-2 scores. Jonathan Kogen had a strong 2½-2½, losing only to NMs Rosen and Magness, and drawing NM Jayakumar.

Victoria Bian won the Illinois Girls' Invitational. Cheryl Liu beat Victoria in the round three encounter of the leaders, but then Cheryl lost to Rachel Ulrich (who was ten years old the last time I asked!) in round 4. Victoria and Cheryl had tied scores; Victoria won on tiebreaks.

Other top finishers in this five-round round robin: Sonya Vohra (3-2) and Rachel Ulrich (2½-2½).

The Illinois Chess Association held its first "Barber Qualifier," to select the Illinois representative to the USCF's new tournament of K-8 state champions, named in honor of retiring scholastic organizer Dewain Barber. Sixteen of the top K-8 players in the state were invited.

Zachary Holecek and James Wei tied for first with 4-1 scores; Zachary won on tiebreaks. Gavin McClanahan and Max Zinski tied for third with 3½-1½ scores. Conrad Oberhaus and Day One leader Bryce McClanahan tied for fifth with 3-2 scores; Penny Xu and Nathaniel Kranjc had even scores.

Andi Rosen organized the three events for the Illinois Chess Association's Warren Junior Program. Sevan Muradian directed, and donated the facilities of the North Shore Chess Center.

Click here for more pictures of the event.