WEIBEL CHESS DOMINATES THE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE SECTIONS OF THE 2018 CALCHESS STATE SCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

This weekend, April 7 and 8, 2018, CalChess held their State Championships at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Under the direction of Dr. Judit Sztaray the tournament continues to improve each year. I would say that the reputation of the event has been made great again. This year the event once again reached the numbers of the early part of the 21st century with around 1200 players. The good reputation of our State Championships are apparently spreading, for they are once again seeing teams from places like Chico and Fresno attending. I was even more excited to know that a fair number of players came from out of State this year.  Back in the 1990’s this Championship drew players from out of State due to its reputation for having outstanding competition. This year a fair number of players appeared again to test their skills against our CalChess players. One did especially well winning his section. While he won the first place trophy, he could not claim the title of State Champion. That honor went to the second place winner in his division.

I am proud to say that Weibel dominated the school competitions in the K-6 divisions. Of the ten Elementary School sections, we had teams in eight. Weibel did not have teams in the two unrated divisions—players without United Chess Federation ratings. We won six of the those eight. Weibel obtained this year’s championship titles in the Kindergarten, K-5 and K-6(co-Champions). We achieved first place in the K-6 and K-3 Junior Varsity sections. We also won a first place in the K-3 Under 500 division. ASIDE: Weibel Elementary School students feed into Horner Junior High School. Their Team won the K-8 Championship (Co-Champions with Fallon Middle School from Dublin).

I have inserted photographs of this year's Cal Chess State Scholastic Champions as well as the first place team winners in the lower sections. I do not have, at this time,  a photograph of our K-6 Junior Varsity team that took first as they were giving out the trophies in two different room on Sunday night. However, I do have a photograph of one of that team's members holding the trophy in a photograph with the K-6 Under 500 group who placed fourth. 

I hope to have more good news in two weeks after the All-Girls Nationals in Chicago. A victory there would mean that Weibel will have obtained ten National titles since 2010.

All the photos I took are now posted from the link at http://www.CalNorthYouthChess.org/photographs.html

You can view the complete results of this year's CalChess Scholastic Championships at: https://bayareachess.com/static/pairings/states1day/

I wanted to send my thanks and Kudos to my players and their parents.  Most of all I want to think our outstanding and unmatched teaching/coaching staff:  Demetrius Goins, Frisco Del Rosario, Gaurang Mehta, Jason Cruz, Badaamkhand Norovasambuu, Kevin Moy, Clarence Jones, Kevin McCue, Jenny Ly and Richard Shorman.  I end with a special call out to our Assistant Coaches from Horner Junior High School that have been working with many of our Kindergarten and First Grade students: Chenyi Zhao, Amy Chan, Rithwik Narenda, Sidharth Raman, Irene Xu, Eshaan Mistry, Louis Law, Aaron Lee and Prabhav Vashist.  

Chess is Forever as I hope Weibel Chess will be.

Alan