COLUMBUS PTA CHESS TEAM

2019 U.S. CHESS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS and pride of New Rochelle — Columbus Elementary PTA’s Chess Team—needs our help! The team is gearing up to return to Nashville, Tennessee in May for 2020’s competition, where they will defend their first-place title in their division for the U.S. Chess Federation’s National Elementary School Championship. In honor of their hard work and remarkable achievement, we ask for city-wide support with defraying costs associated with classes, coaching, travel and lodging.

Here are highlights from 2019’s competition and what this team is capable of surpassing in 2020:

•    Eleven players competed over 3 days to bring home title of National Champions after placing 1st in their division, out of 2,252 chess players on 700 teams and 16 sections from 46 states.

•    First-place standing in the K-6 Under 1000 section with five team members participating in seven rounds over three days.

•    Two students placed individual wins: one in 5th place, winning six of the seven rounds, another in 25th place after winning five of the seven rounds.

•    The Columbus team earned seventh place in the nation for Blitz Chess(speed chess) after competing in 11 rounds. One player won 1st place for chess players rated Under 1000 while another came in 1st place for chess players rated Under 800.

•    Four students competed in the K-5 Under 900 section placing 29th in the nation.

Chess provides critical thinking skills that cross over into academic achievement. One of the ways to best support our players is to encourage their commitment to their chess skills by eliminating any worries associated with costs. Thank you for your investment in our champs!