Day two is in the books at the 2024 National Elementary Championship. With a final total of 1,586 players up nearly 50% over the 2022 NES, also held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center the chess has been fast and furious, with a number of storylines clarifying as we enter the third and final day.
In many sports, halftime is a great time for players to reset, gather their bearings, and map out their plans for the rest of the event. In the U.S. Invitationals, with its intensive two-round days, players get only one brief night to rest before the next day, and the fatigue players acquire towards the end of the tournament is a testament to how physically taxing chess can be. After the first double-round day, multiple players finished close to or even past midnight, and the field was all set for an exciting penultimate day.