Hall Chess Team wins State Championship
Published: Thursday, June 23, 2011
WEST HARTFORD – The Hall High School Chess Team captured first place Saturday, May 21, at the Connecticut State Chess Association K-12 2011 State Championship.
“We really pulled together as a team,” said Kiernan Majerus-Collins, one of the four contestants at the tournament held at the University of Connecticut School of Engineering in Storrs. “It was awesome that we finally broke through for a win.”
Hall’s victory over 20 other schools marked the first time that a Hall High School chess team has won the state title.
Freshman Dan Rozovsky, one of the top young chess masters in the nation, tied for second place in the individual category, winning three of four games and drawing the other.
The other members of the team, who each won two of four, were senior Ben Siegel and two sophomores, David Dobrynin and Majerus-Collins.
“It was a good tournament with some of the top players in the state,” said Siegel, who will be attending the University of Chicago in the fall. “Lots of hard-fought chess.”
Norman Burtness, a Hall physics teacher who advises the chess team, said “Congratulations to Dan for second place and congratulations to the whole team. It’s nice to see that the hard work has paid off.”
Rozovsky, who is a FIDE Master, finished a half a point behind the individual winner, senior Harrison Wheeler, a three-time Greater Danbury champion who plans to attend Columbia University next semester.
Hall’s chess team, which is open to all students, holds weekly meeting after school on Thursdays. To contact the team, email hallhighchess@gmail.com.
Source: http://www.westhartfordnews.com
Congratulations!