Record-Breaking Attendance at the 21st Kasparov Chess Foundation All-Girls National Chess Championship

Record-Breaking Attendance at the 21st Kasparov Chess Foundation All-Girls National Chess Championship

Chicago, IL – The 21st Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) All-Girls National Chess Championship shattered its own attendance record this past weekend, drawing an impressive 601 young female chess players from across the United States and beyond. The tournament, held from April 10 to 12 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in downtown Chicago, saw participation soar from 546 players last year.

Organized in collaboration with the Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation and US Chess, this annual event continues to empower and inspire young female chess enthusiasts as it enters its third decade. Players from 37 states, Washington, D.C., and even Vancouver, British Columbia, made their way to the Windy City, showcasing the growing interest in chess among girls.

The tournament featured six age-based sections, with the top boards for the Under-18, Under-16, and Under-14 categories broadcast live on DGT boards, allowing fans to follow the action in real-time. All games can be replayed online, and full standings are available on the official championship website.

In the fiercely contested Under-18 section, FMs Jasmine Su from Connecticut and Megan Paragua from New York tied for first place, both scoring 5½ out of 6. Su clinched the title on tiebreaks, marking her return to defend her championship in the years to come. Paragua, just 13 years old, has now tied for first in this section for two consecutive years.

The two champions faced their share of challenges throughout the tournament. Su found herself in a precarious position during Round 3, defending an exposed king, while Paragua navigated a pawn-down situation. Their resilience and strategic prowess shone through, earning them the title of co-champions.

In team standings, Paragua’s Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School emerged victorious in the Under-18 section, scoring 12½ out of 18, ahead of Stuyvesant High School.

The Under-16 section saw WCM Khanim Ismayilova from Virginia take clear first with a score of 5½ out of 6. Brooklyn Technical High School claimed the team trophy in this category, also scoring 12½ out of 18.

In the Under-14 section, WCM Alice Chovanec from New York and Anqing Wang from California tied for first, each scoring 5½ out of 6. Gordon Gregory Middle School took home the team trophy with a score of 12½ out of 18.

The Under-12 category featured a tie between Alexandra Liu from New York and Kate Stripunsky from New Jersey, both scoring 5½ out of 6. Liu’s Success Academy Midtown West achieved the highest team score of the weekend with an impressive 14 out of 18.

In the younger age groups, Gillian Gao from New Jersey swept the Under-10 section with a perfect 6 out of 6, while Siddhishree Sundaram from Colorado and Dhriti Singh from Florida each scored 6 out of 6 in the Under-8 category. The Speyer Legacy School and Success Academy Union Square won the team trophies for the Under-10 and Under-8 sections, respectively.

As the tournament concluded, the excitement and camaraderie among participants were palpable, signaling a bright future for female chess players. The KCF All-Girls National Chess Championship not only celebrates the achievements of these young competitors but also fosters a supportive community that encourages girls to pursue their passion for chess.

For more details, including individual and team standings, visit the official championship website.