Bach Ngo News Today

The final two rounds of the 2023 K-12 Grade Level Championships in Orlando, Florida, this past weekend lived up to expectations as players of equal levels clashed head to head in over 2,400 games. On the top boards, there were over two dozen games in the final round in which both players were rated over 2000. But, as we know, it’s not the rating that determines the winner, and so it is now (after the tournament) that we can finally reveal the National Champions of each grade.

At the conclusion of the marathon known as “Saturday at Nationals” (three games!), some section leaders stand alone, others are perfect along with one other, and three sections have between four and six players knotted at the top of the standings. Let’s dive in closer, and check our team updates as well. 12th Grade

The ever-smiling Nigerian boy who made it to the news a bit over three years ago continues to climb the rating ladder. Tanitoluwa Adewumi, better known as Tani, is 11 years old and has just grabbed his first IM norm at the New York Spring Invitational. Once a refugee escaping a terrorist group, he is now a household name in the chess world. | Photo: Kayode Adewumi

And just in time for the new year comes news of some fine performances by young U.S. stars at this month’s FIDE world youth championships, with eight players medaling and four bringing home the gold in a modified rapid knockout event played (of course) online. The honor roll: WGM Carissa Yip, Under-18 Girls gold; Dimitar Mardov, Under-12 Open gold; Alice Lee, Under-12 Girls gold; Omya Vidyarthi, Under-10 Girls gold; Thalia Cervantes Landeiro, Under-18 Girls silver; Zoey Tang, Under-12 Girls s...