29 Players Named National (Co-)Champion at 2024 National K-12 Grade Championships
29 players were crowned National (Co-)Champions in National Harbor, Maryland on Sunday, December 8, in what turned out to be a record-breaking event with over 2,700 players participating across 13 sections. The competition was fierce, with players showcasing their skills and determination to come out on top.
In the 12th-grade section, FM Avi Kaplan from Illinois and Arnav Gupta from Virginia ended their final K-12 Grade Championship as Co-Champions, each finishing with impressive 6/7 scores. The two drew their head-to-head encounter before securing victories in their final games. Their team, Thomas Jefferson High School (TJHS), dominated the team championship with a score of 16½/21.
Moving on to the 11th-grade section, four high school juniors tied for first place with 6/7 scores, making it one of the most competitive sections. IM Evan Park from PA and the New York trio of IM Liran Zhou, William Safranek, and Jed Sloan emerged as Co-Champions after a series of intense games. American Heritage School (FL), Sloan’s Stuyvesant (NY), and Livingston (NJ) tied for first in the team standings.
In the 10th-grade section, IM Erick Zhao from PA secured at least a share of the championship with a quick draw in the final round. WIM Chloe Gaw from NY finished second on tiebreaks, with IM Zhao’s team, The Frazer School, clinching the team championship.
The competition continued in the lower grades, with impressive performances from players like CM Nikash Vemparala in the 9th grade, FM Bryan Enming Lin in the 7th grade, and CM Kyle Dong and Elliott Goodrich in the 6th grade. Teams like Ardrey Kell High School (NC), Hunter College Campus School, and Dalton (NY) also shone in their respective sections.
The event culminated with Francis Zhou from NY winning the kindergarten section with a perfect 7/7 score. Oak Hall emerged as the top team in the kindergarten section, showcasing their talent and dedication.
Overall, the 2024 National K-12 Grade Championship was a testament to the skill and passion of young chess players from across the country. The event not only celebrated individual achievements but also highlighted the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship in the game of chess.