Youth News
Ryan Kong Wins Winter Scholastic U1200, Jack Ding Is Perfect 5.0/5 in U700, 84 Participate in January 7 Event
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 09 January 2017 09 January 2017
Most players are happy to see their ratings increase a few dozen points at a tournament. At the 2017 Winter Scholastic, Ryan Kong enhanced his rating 139 points with four wins and an opening round draw.
Four players tied for second place a half-point back with 4.0/5: Jack Santner, Krish Khana, Advaith Kodipparambil and Atharva Awasthi. Kodipparambil and Awasthi both surpassed 1000. Ratings order was not published by the organizer as of this date.
Kodipparmabil provided Khana his lone blemish in the fourth round but fell to the champion in the final round.
364 Players Compete In YCFC De La Salle December Event; Five Different Squads Prevail in Team Tallies; Kaplan Repeats
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 05 January 2017 05 January 2017
49 Illinois Kids Hit December Youth Top 100 Lists in US
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 26 December 2016 26 December 2016
Although the landscape may have changed since then, as of the December official ratings supplements, seven Illinois juniors have achieved "Masterhood" eclipsing 2200. 19 have USCF ratings above 2000, considered "Experts".
49 are listed on one of the dozen lists.
David Peng (3rd), Dimitar Mardov (4th) and Aren Emrikian (3rd) are in the top five of their respective ages. (Aren once again is the top 6 year old leapfrogging Rachel Li of Texas -- that age is generally lumped in the "7 & Under" Category.)
George Li (8th), Jacob Furfine (9th), Aydin Turgut (6th), and Arthur Xu (8th) are ranked in the top 10 of their age groups.
Mardov Secures 3rd Grade National Championship at K-12's; Whitney Young Claims 10th Grade Team Championship
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 18 December 2016 18 December 2016
With a seventh-round draw, 3rd Grader Dimitar Mardov secured top honors for his grade at the K-12 Nationals ending December 18 in Nashville, TN.
Dimitar finished with 6.5/7, the same score as Luke Ye of Missouri. The two entered the competition with two of the three 1800+ ratings. Top-rated Brian Huang of California finished with 5.5, tied for 9th place. It appears Dimitar had the higher tiebreak over Ye, pending confirmation.
Fellow-Illinoisan Alex Zhao finished with 6.0, in a six-way tie for third place in the nation.
Akhil Kalghatgi Wins National K-12 Blitz; Whitney Young Teammates Stevens & Roman Win National Bughouse
- Details
- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 16 December 2016 16 December 2016
With a little help from fellow Illinois competitor Jason Daniels, Akhil Kalghatgi is now the National K-12 Blitz Champion.
The Whitney Young sophomore won 11 out of his 12 games to win clear first. His brother Nikhil finished a point back tied for second place, third on tiebreaks.
Daniels, still in junior high, and Whitney Young's Matthew Stevens both finished with 9.5/12, tied for fourth, with Daniels taking fourth on tiebreaks and Stevens sixth place.