Hunter College Teammates Face Off for Championship Title at 2026 National Middle School Championship
Hunter College Teammates Face Off for Championship Glory at 2026 National Middle School Chess Championship
Round Rock, Texas – In a thrilling conclusion to the 2026 National Middle School (K-8) Championship, two members of the Hunter College Elementary and High School chess team faced off on Board 1, a rare and exciting occurrence that underscored their team’s remarkable performance throughout the tournament.
On Sunday, FM Bryan Enming Lin, boasting a perfect 6/6 score, went head-to-head against his teammate, CM Arabella Fang, who entered the final round with an impressive 5½/6 after a hard-fought draw against one of the tournament’s top players, FM Megan Paragua. The stakes were high: the winner would claim the title of national champion.
Lin, demonstrating exceptional skill and composure, closed out the tournament with a flawless 7/7 score, securing not only the individual championship but also contributing to Hunter’s team victory, which they clinched by a two-point margin.
“This feels amazing,” Lin said after his victory. “Last year, I finished second, so to come back and win this time is really special.”
Fang, despite her loss, still finished strong with a 5½/7 score, earning a share of fifth place overall. Both eighth graders are set to transition to the National High School (K-12) Championship next year, where they will face new challenges.
The tournament saw fierce competition, with three players tying for second place with scores of 6/7: CM Jashith Karthi from California, Vijay Srinivas Anandh from Texas, and FM Ethan Guo, also from California. Notably, Guo, still in seventh grade, will have another opportunity to compete for the K-8 title next year.
In the team standings, New York schools dominated, with Success Academy Midtown West, Dalton School, The Speyer Legacy School, and IS 318 Eugeno Maria De Hostos rounding out the top five.
The excitement of the tournament was palpable, with WGM Sabina Foisor providing insightful commentary on the games, including highlights from the Under-1700 and Under-1400 sections. Vyas Omshankar from Texas took first place in the Under-1700 section with a score of 6½/7, while the Under-1400 section saw a dramatic shakeup as Ron Li from Washington lost to Yotam Doron-Repa from New York, allowing both Doron-Repa and Louie Nakamura to tie for first.
As the tournament concluded, US Chess Ambassador WGM Jennifer Shahade held a book signing, adding to the day’s festivities. The event was made possible thanks to the support of sponsors like Silver Knights Chess Academy, which provided free game analysis throughout the weekend.
With the 2026 spring scholastic season now wrapped up, organizers expressed gratitude to all participants for their dedication to the game. They look forward to welcoming many back in December for the National K-12 Grade Championships in Orlando.
For full standings and more details, visit the US Chess Championship Hub.
Stay tuned for a photo report featuring top individual and team finishers from all sections, and thank you for being part of this incredible chess journey!