The Sunset Knights at Junior High Nationals 2018!

The Sunset Knights Battle It Out at Temple Emanu-El!

The Sunset Knights competed in a special tournament on Sunday at the Historic Temple in Manhattan. Congratulations to our team's Medal winners Elias Mendez, Leo Ye, and Nelson Li. A special thanks is in order to Chess-in-the-Schools for organizing the tournament and Temple Emanu-El for hosting and catering the entire event!

Central Park Rapid Open 2017!

Here are a few pics from yesterday's Rapid Open Chess Tournament at Central Park. Our players were required to play six rounds of chess at lightning speed against adult and scholastic players from all five boroughs. Congratulations to Jacky Cheung for winning all six games and Leo Ye and Omar Saquisili for winning 5 out of 6 games! The awards were officiated by old school chess legend Grandmaster Lev Alburt. It's great to have the team back together.

Another One Bites the Dust!

The Sunset Knights are bussing it back to Brooklyn today having completed the team's 6th trip to the National Chess Championship. Our team clung tenaciously to 10th place until a 7th round upset knocked the team down to 19th! Over 74 school teams competed in this section and awards were given to the top 25 schools. We also played a small team in the K-5 U1200 comprised of Omar, Genesis, Luis, and Eric that finished 16th Place. Caleb Garcia was awarded a special trophy for his exemplary performance within his age grouping.

It's incredible how much our kids learn about chess, sportsmanship, and teamwork during this intense competition. Since this team is comprised entirely of 4th and 3rd graders, most will be returning next year and it will exciting to see their growth.

SuperNational 2017 was quite a star studded event. Former World Champion Garry Kasparov was in attendance to give signings of his new book. GM Maurice Ashley, GM Irina Krush (Former US Champ), and GM Nazi Pakidze (also Former US Champ) give simultaneous exhibitions and talked to players. It's incredible how much our kids learn about chess in this environment, not to mention, sportsmanship, and teamwork during this intense competition. Since this team is comprised entirely of 4th and 3rd graders, most will be returning next year and it will exciting to see their growth.

Lastly, this amazing trip wouldn't have been possible without the tireless work of P.S.503 staff members and parent chaperones who 24/7 tended to every physical and emotional need of these 22 chess players! Thank you Yesen, Steven, Jade, Mauro, Frank, Elsa, Janet, Nelson, and Noel. Thank you again, again, and again.

I would also like to thank our CIS coach Jeff Kelleher for giving so much of himself to our team and making each player feel so special and loved.

HASTA LA PROXIMA, Carlos