Elementary Team Chess Championship on Saturday, Feb. 5 at Michigan
State University. One of our K-5 teams (Joy Chen, Andrew Alson, Ryan
Li, and Aayush Unadkat) won the state championship, the fourth year in
a row that King has won the K-5 state title, which we believe to be a
record. A second K-5 team (Christopher Zou, Connor Wright, Soham
Naik, and Jack Santinga) also did well. One our our K-3 teams
(Anthony Liao, Jonathan Zou, Aarnav Unadkat, and Christian Wright)
finished 5th in the state, and a second K-3 team of mostly beginners
(Timothy Hamill, Harrison Baker, Haru Iizuka, and Eva Erhardt)
finished 3rd in a reserve section. Several King players won
individual medals.
King also had approximately 20 players at the local Thurston Kids
Chess Tournament on Jan. 22, organized by Thurston and King parents,
and King kids placed first in three of the four sections.
The King chess program continues to thrive under the leadership of
local chess teacher Ray Garrison.
Submitted by Jeff Alson
