Orlando Off to Record Breaking Start

The K-12 Grade Nationals in Orlando kicked off with record breaking attendance, with 1725 players pre-registered for the Main Event, the highest total since 2003. US Chess Director of Events Francisco Guadalupe told US Chess, "We had to make some adjustments to the floor plans because of the great attendance, a good "problem" to have!" Andrew Liu (MA) won the K-12 section of the blitz tournament while Arai Gordon Lee (KS) and John Alexander Costello (CA) tied for first in the K-6. Blitz numbers were also up, 289 players this year compared to 211 in 2014. 42 teams participated in the bughouse event, up from 38 last year. Two teams topped the crosstable, Dalhouse and Xue and Kalghatgi/Kalghatgi. See full blitz and bug results, follow pairings and standings here and look for exclusive US Chess reports from Grandmaster Irina Krush.