Troy students are chess champions
Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:59 AM EDT
By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY
Of The Oakland Press
A dozen youngsters at Barnard Elementary School have been playing chess after school all year for the fun and the challenge of the game.
They also love to compete. They demonstrated that recently when two members of the group each won an overall Michigan Scholastic championships with their chess-playing skills.
Fifth-grader Apurva Virkud took the Overall Champion in Individual Children’s Championship among Michigan’s fourth and fifth grades, and third-grader Patrick Graham won Overall Champion in Individual Young Children’s Championship for children in kindergarten through third grade.
This is the first time in memory that two children from the same school won individual championships in both categories, said Tim McAvoy, public relations director in Troy schools.
Patrick’s father, Dennis Graham, has been volunteer coach of the group for three years. Barnard students are encouraged to take the chess class offered by Troy Parks and Recreation each fall. And all who do take it and like to play are welcomed to join the group, said Principal Mary Haezebrouck.
Three other youngsters in the Barnard chess club took trophies as well. Second-grader Aaron Glueck won second place overall in the Individual Young Children’s Championship, firstgrader Madav Ramesh placed first among first-graders, and second-grader Surya Krishnan placed second among secondgraders.
Here is the full article.
Nice job Apurva.