Students Compete in 20th Annual Elmhurst Community Chess Tournament

Submitted by Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205.

Elmhurst, IL - Over 200 students from second through 12th grade came out to compete in the 20th Annual Elmhurst Community Chess Tournament, held on Wednesday, March 16 at York High School.

The participants represented 14 different public and private schools in Elmhurst.

For the past 20 years, community volunteers have worked with school chess leaders to offer an opportunity for students to learn and play chess in a casual, fun environment that gives them a chance to “taste friendly chess competition.”

In the tournament, students competed in five timed matches. On the competition floor were six independent judges, six scorekeepers, two pairing software controllers and an announcer. Throughout the evening, there were 110 boards placed, 550 clocks set up, 17,600 chess pieces arranged, 16 raffled prizes valued at over $400.00, donated by It’s Good To Be King store here in Elmhurst. In addition, there were over 25 parent volunteers who passed out donated snacks to players, parents and siblings. That’s a lot of chess piece moves, all on a school night!

​First place winners received a trophy; second, third and fourth place winners received ribbons.

The standings for our top contenders in the 2016 competition are as follows:

At the 2nd grade level:

• 1st place: Luke Alexander, Visitation
• 2nd place: Tyler Aprati, Lincoln
• 3rd place: Grifin Hayes, Edison
• 4th place: Nicholas Credidio, Edison

At the 3rd grade level:

• 1st place: Gavin Bullard, Timothy Christian
• 2nd place: Drew Gami, Emerson
• 3rd place: Deven Casey, Jefferson
• 4th place: Brendan Carroll, Visitation

At the 4th grade level:

• 1st place: Jack Davies, Edison
• 2nd place: Cole Ostendorf, Lincoln
• 3rd place: Luke Richards, Emerson
• 4th place: Charlie Castillo, Jackson

At the 5th grade level:

• 1st place: Clare Mortenson, Lincoln
• 2nd place: Lucas Kubycheck, Edison
• 3rd place: Jack Carroll, Visitation
• 4th place: Johnny Dietz, Lincoln

At the Middle School level:

• 1st place: Salvatore Stangarone, Visitation
• 2nd place: Nolan Crowell, Bryan
• 3rd place: Ben Rosen, Bryan (not pictured)
• 4th place: Nolan Schaer, Bryan

At the York High School level:

• 1st place: Aazam Mohsin
• 2nd place: Glen Lehrer (not pictured)
• 3rd place: Manu Mehta
• 4th place: Daniel Rafac

Attached photos are by grade level; names are as follows, L to R:

2nd Grade - Nicholas Credidio, Edison, Grifin Hayes, Edison, Tyler Aprati, Lincoln, Luke Alexander, Visitation

3rd Grade - Deven Casey, Jefferson, Drew Gami, Emerson, Gavin Bullard, Timothy Christian, Brendan Carroll, Visitation

4th Grade - Luke Richards, Emerson, Cole Ostendorf, Lincoln, Jack Davies, Edison, Charlie Castillo, Jackson

5th Grade - Lucas Kubycheck, Edison, Johnny Dietz, Lincoln, Clare Mortenson, Lincoln, Jack Carroll, Visitation

Middle School - Nolan Schaer, Bryan, Salvatore Stangarone, Visitation, Nolan Crowell, Bryan, Ben Rosen, Bryan (not pictured)

High School - Manu Mehta, Aazam Mohsin, Daniel Rafac, Glen Lehrer (not pictured)