Youth News
Zhen Mo, Hinsdale Central Prevail at West Suburban Tourney
- Details
- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 09 February 2015 09 February 2015
In contrast to many other conference tournaments held January 31 as board-based events, the West Suburban Conference was held as an individual tournament with team tallies for the top eight scores.
88 entrants from nine schools competed. Players were not paired against teammates; all teams entered at least nine with Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South both entering the most with 14.
When the dust settled Hindsadale Central's Zhen Mo posted the lone perfect score with five wins. He secured his championship with a fifth round victory over Downer Grove South's Bashkim Useni.
Three players were a half-point back at 4.5 including Downers Grove North's Ben Cortez, Glenbard West's Giorgi Vanderway and Oak Park-River Forest's Conrad Manaugh.
Minkee Lee, Neuqua Valley Undefeated in Upstate 8 Tourney
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 08 February 2015 08 February 2015
With a solid 44.0-24.0 defeat of Waubonsie Valley in the final round, Naperville-based Neuqua Valley was declared champions of Upstate Eight conference tournament. Neuqua Valley finished the January 31 tournament 4-0.
On tiebreaks, Waubonsie Valley took third place with Metea Valley placing second, both with 3.0 scores.
Elgin High School and St. Charles (East) also scored 3.0/4, placing fourth and fifth respectively. 14 teams competed in the tournament.
First Board Minkee Lee of Nequa Valley was perfect in four matches as was teammmate Ricky Rolbiecki on Board 4. Neuqua Valley's Logan Mazurek had the top score among Fifth Boarders with a 3.5/4 score with three wins and a third round draw.
Orland Park's Sandburg High School Tops SWSC
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 08 February 2015 08 February 2015
Sandburg High School managed to win all four of its team matches to claim the Southwest Suburban Conference end-of-season tournament championship in competition conducted January 31.
Tying for second with 3.0/4 scores was Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln-Way North (Frankfort) and Joliet West, with H-F taking second on the higher tiebreaks.
Heading into the final round, Sandburg and North were the undefeated teams, with the Orland Park squad upending the Frankfort school 43.5-24.5 with wins from Joshua Kolodziejczyk (Board 1), Jacob Colby (Board 5), Sebastian Kwiatek (Board 6), Erik Herold (Board 7) and Chase Fortin (Board 8). Sandburg's Boards 5 through 8 all won top honors in the conference event.
The SWSC includes 14 schools.
Illinois Youth in USCF Top 100 as of January 2015
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- Written by Bill Feldman, data compiled by Chris Wellendorf Bill Feldman, data compiled by Chris Wellendorf
- Published: 03 February 2015 03 February 2015
22! Illinois now boasts 22 youth with USCF regular ratings of 2000 or higher with four Masters and 18 Experts.
A pair of 14-year olds was the key to these new totals; George Li earned his Master title and Daniel Bronfeyn is now in Expert territory as of the January 2015 official ratings. With fellow 14-year old Jack Curcio climbing to 1998, it's likely this group will have company very soon. (See note below)*
Also entering new class distinction this month was 12-year old Ishaar Ganesan who raised his rating 88 points to enter Class A status. 7-year old Alex Zhao bumped his rating 79 points, entering Class D territory.
Sterling Nabs NICL Conference Tournament
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Published: 01 February 2015 01 February 2015
Northern Illinois Chess League's 2013-14 tournament co-champions Sterling and Rockford Jefferson were back at it January 31 in Freeport. The two high schools were the lone undefeated teams heading into the final round of the 2014-15 NICL tournament.
Shortly after Board One's Logan Rodgers (Jefferson) and Dylan Kenney (Sterling) agreed to a draw, the teams were neck and neck with Sterling holding a slight edge. All Sterling needed was a draw in the final match on fifth board to secure the championship. Without consultation, Sterling's Jacob Kyritz-Dennis boldly declined Ozzy Flores' draw offer and played on.
When Kryitz-Dennis checkmated Flores there were team hugs all around as Sterling took the match and the tournament championship, with Jefferson placing second on tiebreaks.