As covered in last night's Flash Report, 1,586 players from 42 states competed in the National Elementary School Championship in Columbus, Ohio from April 26 through 28. Below is a detailed report with photos and annotated games from our newest national champions. Full standings are available here.
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.
Almost 1,600 students from grades kindergarten through sixth grade begun their chess-filled weekends on Friday, April 26 in Columbus for the 2024 National Elementary School (NES) Championship. Play continues today, with three rounds. Top boards can be followed on uschess.live all day.
The first rounds of the 2024 National High School (K-12) Championship in Baltimore, Maryland, were full of suspense until the very last seconds of the second round. In the K-12 Open, 43 players boast perfect 2/2 scores, including most of the highest-rated players. The results page can be misleading, though, as several familiar names (including both reigning 12th grade champions) survived serious scares late Friday night. Read on for some dramatic, fighting chess!
If turnouts were ratings, the 2023 National Elementary School (NES) Championships would be sitting at board three in the K-6 Championship, board two in the K-5 Championship, and board one in the K-3 Championship. With 2,118 registered players, the tournament would even outrank this author by a few points. Which is to say: that's a lot of kids here in Baltimore, MD!