FLASH REPORT: Eric Liu of Frisco, Texas is the 2023 National Middle School Champion

1,251 players from 35 states competed in Round Rock, Texas near Austin to determine the nation’s top middle school chess players

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS: The 501(c)3 US Chess Federation’s 2023 National Middle School (K-8) Championship took place from April 21-April 23, 2023 at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, Texas. A total of 1,251 players from 35 states competed. This tournament was formerly known as the National Junior High School (K-9) Championship until becoming the National Middle School Championship in 2022.

The individual K-8 Co-Champion is:

Eric Liu, 7th Grade, Wester Middle School, Frisco, Texas

In the team championships, the K-8 Champions are:

Millburn Middle School with their championship award. Photo by Randy Anderson

Millburn Middle School, Millburn, New Jersey

Team members are:

                QIAN, Bobby (5.5,2014)                         
                XIE, Timothy (5.0,2080)                        
                ZHU, Ryan (4.5,1972)                           
                ZHU, Florina (4.0,1826)                        
                ZHANG, David (4.0,1730)

Many other winners in multiple sections below the championship section were also determined. These winners are properly identified as, “Winner of the <X> section at the National Middle School Championship.” For a full list of winners, please see here: http://www.uschess.org/results/2023/ms/.

US Chess Executive Director Carol Meyer also notes, “This year we were delighted to have Hamilton Chess from Novato, California attend as part of our Title I School Grant initiative. This program reflects US Chess goals and delivers on our mission to empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess as we bring chess to students who might not be able to access the game without this support. Our donors’ generosity underscores the chess community’s commitment to meeting the needs of students who come from underserved communities.”

We will have a full round report posted tomorrow.