Niles North Brings Home IHSA State Championship
By George Slefo
6:00 am
More than 120 Illinois high schools competed last weekend at the IHSA Chess Championship. Niles North came out on top for the third time since 2006.
Last year, the Niles North chess team fell short in their hunt for a state championship, finishing second overall.
This year, it was checkmates all around, as the team claimed the top prize in the IHSA Chess Championship in Peoria on Friday and Saturday. This was North’s third state championship since 2006.
More than 120 Illinois high schools competed, and Niles North remained undefeated throughout the tournament, finishing 7-0. The school’s team consisted of 12 players overall, some of which are international superstars.
Senior Eric Rosen recently finished ninth overall at the World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil in November. He eventually lost to an Armenia player who ultimately went on to win the U18 sectional in the 1,200-plus tournament.
Yet last weekend, Rosen was with his fellow peers, working together to bring a state championship to Skokie.
“This was probably the most exciting and riveting tournament I’ve been to,” said Brad Rosen, Eric’s father. “It was just amazing what they were able to pull off.”
Brad said the biggest turning point came in the sixth round, when junior David Paykin pulled off an amazing upset against a Stevenson High School student.
“David was the big star of the show,” Brad said. “He literally pried victory from the jaws of defeat. He won it with drama and finesse. It was absolutely the turning point of the tournament.”
This marked the second championship for Niles North’s head chess coach, Harry Kyriazes. His last championship was in 20010. Kyriazes coached his team well, as all 12 students who competed won at least one game.
Skokie Patch would like to congratulate the 2012 Illinois State Chess Champions: Eric Rosen, David Paykin, Ethan Brown, Ben Marks, Rafeh Qazi, Adil Dzelilovic, Sorush Kadineh, Adam Rubinberg, Ross Schneider, Yuri Tytla, Emmett Barr and John Grossman.
Source: http://skokie.patch.com
Congrats!