2009 Citywide Chess Champs
Fullerton Observer
FULLERTON’S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS
• est.1978 (printed on 70% recycled paper) Volume 31 #9
• MID MAY 2009
Fifty-seven of the best student chess players in Fullerton converged on the Fullerton Senior Center on May 1st in quest of fame and glory, and to win the title of Fullerton Chess Champion for 2009 at their grade level. The annual tournament is sponsored by the Fullerton Host Lions Club and coordinated by the tireless Pete Baron.
This year’s tournament was also an opportunity to qualify to play against four-time women’s World Champion Susan Polgar in a Lions-sponsored simultaneous exhibition planned for August 21.
There were seven elementary grade tournaments (Grades 2 through 8), and two high school tournaments (Grades 9 & 10, and Grades 11 & 12). The high school tournaments were dominated by Andrew Kao and Sean Manross, respectively – both from Sunny Hills High, and both US Chess Federation-rated players. There was spirited competition in all other tournaments, with a single point or less separating the first and second place finishers. The 7th grade tournament was especially competitive, with five of the nine players scoring within 1.5 points behind the leader, Carlos Suazo.
Master of their respective grade levels for several consecutive years were Joshua Yoo, Ryaz Razi, Jamal Yacoob, Zayn Razi, and Andrew Kao.
Competitors for grades 2-6 came from six different schools; however, students from Laguna Road dominated, as they have in past years: nine of the fifteen first, second and third-place finishers were Roadrunners. Although most of the competitors were boys, first and second places in the fourth grade tournament were captured by Eeman Igbal from Arborland Montessori and Sarah Young from Laguna Road.
First three places received trophies, and all students received souvenirs and a certificate. The first four finishers in each tournament will be invited to participate in the aforementioned Susan Polgar exhibition.
Source: Fullerton Observer
Go Sean! U da man!