CTC Leaders Make a Strong Showing at the Grade Nationals

The tournament ran from December 9^th-11^th at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Scholastic players from around the country competed by grade to claim the glory of a national winner. IM Evan Park, CTC President of Global Outreach, entered the field of 9^th grade as No. 1 seed with a dominance of over 200 rating points higher than the next seed. He showcased his superb chess skills, remained undefeated over 7 rounds of fierce battles.

IM Nico Chasin, who has been leading an online group study for African competitive youth chess players under CTC Global Outreach Initiative, was also first seeded in the 10^th-grade section. With a dazzling score of 6.5/7 and pitifully losing only on tiebreak, he became the co-champion of his grade, the fourth National Grade Championship title he proudly collected.

Ryan Zhu, 6^th grader from Millburn Middle School in NJ and a CTC Global Outreach Chapter Coordinator, also had much to celebrate. Individually placed 9^th, he brought home the Team Championship title together with his schoolmates, a feat that proved their unparalleled team spirit. His sister Florina Zhu, a CTC Global Outreach Chapter Leader, demonstrated her girl power with the game and placed 43 out of 190 players in a very tough 8^th-grade section.  

What needs to be added is the sensational win by Alice Shen, a long-time participant in the Unruly Queens programs and a winner at the Fall 2022 Unruly Queens Chess Festival. Consecutively beating the boy opponents in her section and winning all her 7 rounds, she became the 2^nd-Grade National Champion! The whole Unruly Queens team cheered for Alice throughout her play and could not be prouder of her amazing achievement!  

For more details on the results of the 2022 National K-12 Grades Championships, please visit http://www.uschess.org/results/2022/k12.