Yeshiva University Chess Club Hosts Inaugural Inter-Yeshiva Chess Tournament for High School Students

The Yeshiva University Chess Club made history last month by hosting its first-ever Inter-Yeshiva Chess Tournament for yeshiva high school students on the Wilf campus. The tournament, attended by 24 students from various high schools, including Rambam Mesivta and Yeshiva University High School for Boys, was a competitive and exciting event.

The tournament kicked off with a light breakfast before the students engaged in six rounds of intense chess, each with a time control of ten minutes. The highlight of the event was the awards ceremony, where trophies were presented to the winners. National Master Bryan Weisz and Grandmaster Semyon Lomasov also showcased their skills by playing multiple games simultaneously without looking at the board.

Leora Schramm, the Beren president of the Chess Club, expressed her excitement about the event, stating that it provided high schoolers with the opportunity to compete in a serious tournament and learn from Jewish chess masters. The goal of the tournament was to create a competitive chess event for yeshiva high school students who often face scheduling conflicts with other tournaments held on Shabbat or Chagim.

David Yagudayev, the Wilf president of the chess club and chief organizer of the tournament, shared his vision for the event to become a prestigious and established competition for yeshiva high school students. He hopes that the tournament will continue to grow and potentially become a staple event like YUNMUN and Sarachek, but for chess.

Overall, the Inter-Yeshiva Chess Tournament was a success, bringing together Jewish students for a day of strategic gameplay and friendly competition. With plans for future growth and expansion, the tournament is set to become a must-attend event for yeshiva high school chess enthusiasts.