2024 US National Middle School Chess Championship Recap: Vemparala and Liu Co-Champions

The 2024 US National Middle School Chess Championship ended in a thrilling co-championship between Nikash Vemparala and Eric Chang Liu. Vemparala, seeded 11th and rated 2171, emerged victorious on tiebreaks after a hard-fought draw with Liu, who entered the tournament with a rating of 2468.

The final day of the tournament saw Vemparala and Liu as the only perfect scores, with only two players trailing them by a half-point. However, both leaders secured wins in their final games, solidifying their co-championship status. Vemparala’s victory was particularly impressive as he had to “play up” three rounds in a row, facing higher-rated opponents each time.

In addition to the individual co-champions, two New York teams, Columbia Grammar and Prep, and Speyer Legacy School, tied for first in the team competition. The event featured a total of 1,175 players from 36 states, showcasing the growing popularity and competitiveness of scholastic chess in the United States.

The future looks bright for young talents like Ethan Guo, Megan Paragua, and Kyle Wang, who all finished in a three-way tie for third place with impressive 6/7 scores. Overall, the 2024 US National Middle School Chess Championship was a display of skill, determination, and sportsmanship among the next generation of chess players.