Young Champions Crowned at 2022 National Elementary (K-6) Championship!

The 501(c)3 US Chess Federation’s 2022 National Elementary School (K-6) Championship took place from May 13-15 at Columbus Ohio’s Greater Columbus Convention Center.  A total of 1,053 players from 40 states took part in this annual event that identifies national champions in four championship sections: K-1, K-3, K-5, and K-6. We had 472 teams take part, 115 players from the host state of Ohio, and 371 from New York, which was the state with the most representatives. Two players from Hawaii even made the trip.

Notably, we had siblings win championships in the K-1 and K-5 sections, the Mansurov brothers from New York (more details below). This has happened before; in 2019 we had our first brother/sister combo (K-6/K-3) and twice before two brothers have won national elementary championships in the same year, in 1997 and 2006.

Also of note is that New York’s Lower Laboratory School for Gifted Education (PS 77) won two team championships. New York players and schools were especially successful as seven players or teams were champions or co-champions.

(Note: Where co-champions are listed, they are in tiebreak order.)

L to R: Issac Wang (Solana Ranch Elementary, San Diego, CA); Eric Liu (Wester Middle School, Frisco, TX)

Success Academy Midtown West, New York, NY

Two players tied for first in the K-6 Championship.  Both are National Elementary School K-6 Co-Champions: Eric Liu (6th grade) of Wester Middle School, Frisco, TX; and Isaac Wang (6th grade) of Solana Ranch Elementary, San Diego, CA.

The Success Academy Midtown West of New York, NY won the K-6 Team Championship.

L to R: Yusuf Mansurov (PS 236, Brooklyn, NY); Aiden Liu (Dorris-Eaton School, San Ramon, CA); Carter Ho (The Anderson School, New York, NY)

The Anderson School (New York, NY)

Three players tied for first in the K-5 Championship.  All are National Elementary School K-5 Co-Champions: Aiden Liu (4th grade) of Dorris-Eaton School, San Ramon, CA; Carter Ho (5th grade) of The Anderson School, New York, NY; and Yusuf Mansurov (4th grade) of PS 236, Brooklyn, NY.

The Anderson School in New York, NY, won the K-5 Team Championship.

Lower Laboratory School for Gifted Education (PS 77), New York, NY

Elliott Goodrich (Lower Lab PS77, New York, NY)

Elliott Goodrich is the National Elementary School K-3 Champion. Elliott (3rd grade) attends the Lower Laboratory School for Gifted Education (PS 77) of New York, New York, which also won the K-3 Team Championship.

L to R: Aakash Jani (Oak Hall, Gainsville, FL), Matthew Yu (Skinner North Classical School, Chicago, IL), Rocky Wang (Bemis Elementary, Troy, MI), Umar Mansurov (PS 236, Brooklyn, NY)

Lower Laboratory School for Gifted Education (PS 77), New York, NY

Four players tied for first in the K-1 Championship. All are K-1 Co-Champions: Aakash Jani (1st grade) attends Oak Hall in Gainesville, Florida;. Rocky Wang (1st grade) attends Bemis Elementary in Troy, Michigan; Umar Mansurov (1st grade) attends PS 236 in Brooklyn, New York; and Matthew Yu (1st grade) attends Skinner North Classical School in Chicago, Illinois.

The Lower Laboratory School for Gifted Education (PS 77) of New York, New York, won the K-1 Team Championship.

Many other winners in numerous sections below the championship sections were also identified. For a full list of winners, please see here: http://www.uschess.org/results/2022/elem/

As US Chess fulfills its mission to “Empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess,” we use our scholastic nationals to fulfill our goals to expand the educational, social, recreational and rehabilitative applications of chess; increase the visibility of chess on mainstream communications channels; develop the depth and breadth of our partnerships; use chess to increase opportunities for under-represented segments of society, and to continuously improve internal operations and member services.

US Chess Executive Director Carol Meyer notes, “Our vision is that chess is recognized as an essential tool that promotes inclusiveness and benefits education, rehabilitation, recreation, and friendly competition. This all comes together at our national scholastic championships.”