FLASH REPORT: Liu and Vemparala are the 2024 National Middle School Champions

Almost 1,200 players from 36 states competed in Atlanta, Georgia to determine the nation’s top middle school chess players

ATLANTA, GA: The 501(c)3 US Chess Federation’s 2024 National Middle School (K-8) Championship took place from May 10-12 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. A total of 1,175 players from 36 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-Champions are (in tiebreak order):

Nikash Vemparala, 8th Grade, Overlake School, Redmond, Washington
Eric Liu, 8th Grade, Wester Middle School, Frisco, Texas

Nikash Vemparala (left) and Eric Liu (right)

Liu successfully defended his 2023 National Middle School Championship that he won as a 7th grader.

In the team championships, the K-8 Co-Champions are (in tiebreak order):

Columbia Grammar and Prep, New York, NY

Team members are:

                PARAGUA, Megan Althea (6.0,2198)                        
                WILLIAMS, Christopher J (4.5,1863)                      
                JAVERI, Riaan (3.5,1733)                                
                JAVERI, Arhan (3.5,1837)

The Speyer Legacy School, New York, NY

Team members are:

                SHANGIN, Lev (5.0,2170)                                 
                PEYTON, Nathan (4.5,1850)                               
                TSE, Whitney (4.0,1940)                                 
                BOYDELL, Oliver (4.0,1947)

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/2024/ms/.

US Chess Executive Director Ranae Bartlett also notes, “This year we were delighted to have Hamilton Chess from Novato, California attend once again as part of our Title I School Grant initiative. They were joined by Grace James Academy of Excellence from Louisville, Kentucky. 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 final tournament report posted tomorrow.