The PS 116 February 24th Chess Tournament was again a great success. Over 200 students from public and private schools around the NYC area decided to match their wits over the board, when outside the beautiful weather offered an array of other activities at the end of a weeklong winter break for all public schools.

The NO SCORE section continues to draw the chess masters of tomorrow in their earliest stage of development. This tournament brought 26 of them from 8 different public and private schools. Although each student ended up with 2 points, standouts were the sibling team of Rehyan and Samuel Keimweiss from HORACE MANN and for spirited play Andie Harty from NEST.

NOVICE 1 saw representatives from 9 schools, with PS 116 taking 2nd place team honors, and NEST garnering the 1st place plaque. For individual awards 5 students wound up with 5 points, with Lucas Ruiz from NEST placing 2nd on tie-breaks. Jack Waxman from the Ethical Culture School took clear 1st with the only perfect score in the section.

There were 21 students from the same school in Brooklyn in NOVICE 2, as well as 9 other students from 5 other schools. NEST took the 2nd place honor for the team prize, but OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE from Bensonhurst dominated for the 1st place team award. For top individual honors Michael Conenna from OLG edged our 6 other 3-point finishers for the 3rd place trophy, Clyde Huibregtse from PS 234 won clear 2nd, and Brandon Markowitz from LOWER LAB took clear 1st with a perfect score.

In the K-1 section 25 students from 15 different schools competed. The 2nd place team honor was split by PS 116 and PS 158, and the top school was HUNTER by half a point. Daniel Mintz from PS 158 placed 3rd on tie-breaks, Jonathan Zhang also from PS 158 placed 2nd, and Nat Melas-Kyriazi from DALTON placed 1st on tie-breaks.

PRIMARY had 28 students from 17 different schools. PS 116 took clear 2nd for team honors and HUNTER took clear 1st by 1 point. Andrew Tai from HUNTER took home the 3rd place trophy, Myles Wolf took home the 2nd place trophy on tie-breaks, and Jane Zhang from PS 158 took home the 1st place trophy with the only perfect score in the section.

The RESERVE section had 27 players from 12 different schools. ST ANN's placed 3rd on tie-breaks, HUNTER placed clear 2nd, and PS 116 placed 1st with a commanding 3-point lead. Individual honors were won by Jesse Weinstein from HUNTER who took 3rd on tie-breaks, Eric Dickstein from BANKSTREET took clear 2nd, and Andy Price from ST ANN's took clear 1st with a perfect score.

The OPEN section had 21 players from 15 different schools. Team honors for 2nd place were split by PS 116 and TREVOR DAY. Top team honors went to PS 6 by 1.5 points. Albert Shub from BUCKLEY won the 3rd place trophy on tie-breaks, Christopher Vazan from ST BERNARD's took the 2nd place trophy on tie-breaks, and Conor Yuen took the 1st place trophy with a half point lead over the field.

In the highest and most difficult section, CHAMPIONSHIP, it was HORACE MANN that took clear 3rd team honors, DALTON took clear 2nd, and BRONX SCIENCE too 1st by half a point. Individual awards went to Nitai Leve from BRONX SCIENCE for 4th on tie-breaks, Raven Sturt from BRONX SCIENCE for 3rd, Angel Lopez from SATTEL on tie-breaks for 2nd, and Kassa Korley from DALTON took clear 1st by half a point.

Thanks to Saudin Robovic and Alex Beltre for insuring that the tournament went without a hitch, to the rest of the NYCHESSKIDS staff for insuring that fun was had by all, and to the PS 116 Chess Parents for providing food and drink concessions the entire day. Also, don't forget to check out Frank Wu's amazing photos from the competition floor on the website homepage.

See you next tournament!