Calinsky, Badhe, Guthrie, Billmann reign as city chess champs

The 2016 City Chess Tournament champions are Zachary Calinsky, second from left, Om Badhe, Michael Guthrie and Grace Billmann. Laqueta Ward with Systems Products and Solutions Inc., tournament sponsor, and Mayor Troy Trulock congratulate the winners. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Madison’s most talented chess players — from kindergartners to high school seniors — entered the first annual City Chess Championship on March 28.

Bob Jones High School hosted the championship meet. Systems Products and Solutions Inc. sponsored the event. Mayor Troy Trulock welcomed competitors who had qualified to compete during the school year.

The tournament was open to Madison youth who had finished first or second in one of five qualifying tournaments.

The 2016 City Chess Champions are Zachary Calinsky, primary; Om Badhe, elementary; Michael Guthrie, junior high; and Grace Billmann. Each champion received a crystal award and $100.

In the Primary (K-3) section, finalists were Zachary Calinsky, Rainbow Elementary School, first place; Karsten Wallace, second, Rainbow; and Oviya Gowder, Heritage Elementary School, third. Other competitors were Geon Park, Vallabh Busetty, Luke Chynoweth, Chris Zheng, Caroline Wang, Corinne Wilhelm and Alex Povorozniuc.

In Elementary (4-6), Om Badhe of Mill Creek Elementary School led in first place; Will Fox, Madison Elementary School, second; and Aubteen Pour-Biazar, West Madison Elementary School, third. Other contestants were Jenson Wilhelm, Edward Calinsky, Victor Lundy, Maanasi Limaye, Constance Wang, Abhishek Emani and Puja Chopade.

For Junior High (7-8), Michael Guthrie from Discovery Middle School was first-place winner; Josh Lin from Discovery earned second and Lawrence Zhang, Liberty Middle School, third. Will Bao, Alex Edwards, Carson Boland, William Spanier, Hayden Billmann and Erin Kueck also competed.

Grace Billmann was first-place victor for high school.

An Open Section allowed entrants to compete with longer time controls:

* K-3 — Xavier Bruni, first; Pulak Agarwalla, second; Harsha Matta, third; and Top Female, Sahithi Mynampally.

* 4-6 — Mohak Agarwalla, first; Pranav Somu, second; Will Cox, third; and Top Female, Yuti Das.

* 7-12 — Mark Skrabanek, first.

Madison City Chess League, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, promotes chess education for Madison students in grades K-12. For more information, contact executive director Ranae Bartlett by emailing mccl.director@gmail.com or visit madisonchess.com.