Madison chess players enter National K-12 Grade Championship

MADISON – Seventeen members of Madison City Chess League expanded their knowledge of the game at the National K-12 Chess Championship in Orlando, Fla. during the first weekend of December.

Rainbow Elementary School teachers Maria Adams and Rebecca McDaniel, Coach Jonathan Rasberry, MCCL Executive Director Ranae Bartlett and parents accompanied and encouraged the students in playing seven rounds during three days of competition.

“Playing in a national tournament can be exhausting, but it’s also a tremendous learning opportunity akin to an intensive chess camp when instructors help our students learn from their games after each round,” Bartlett said. “One benefit of MCCL membership is having support of coaches at state and national tournaments. We thank Alabama Chess Federation President Jonathan Rasberry for coaching our kids.”

Discovery Middle School’s sixth-grade team with Cooper Meyer, Kate Meyer and Jack Meyer and seventh-grader Xavier Bruni showed outstanding tournament play. “Some of the longest games were played by Xavier Bruni, who reached a personal best, placing fourth in the nation in his grade level,” Bartlett said.

Bruni scored higher than other MCCL members and ended with 5.5 pts and a clear fourth-place finish with the first-place winner in his section rated above 2,300.

In other performances, Jimmy Hughes took 15th place in first grade. “Jimmy’s impressive score of five points in his first national tournament placed him in a tie for sixth place,” Bartlett said. “On tie-breaks, he placed 15th.”

The Blitz tournament preceded the three-day main event. Esteban Jerez won a first-place class prize among students rated 800-999.

For other Class prize winners, Alice Zou scored four points and claimed third place among those rated 600-799 points. Jack Meyer scored three points and won first place among players rated below 600. Isaac Kreusser scored four points and ranked in third place among those rated 600-799.

In team competition, Rainbow’s second-grade team with Annabelle Hsu, Asher Allison and Dennis Lenski ranked sixth in the nation.

Reaching tenth place, Horizon Elementary School’s third-grade team included Kylie Zou and Esteban Jerez. Discovery’s sixth-grade team reached fifth place overall with triplets Cooper Meyer, Kate Meyer and Jack Meyer. “They pulled out a nailbiter,” Bartlett said.