Months of anticipation culminated recently in a thrilling showdown as the 1st Annual Regional High School Chess Team Championship took place at the San Diego Chess Club in Balboa Park. The event brought together 10 high schools from across Southern California in a display of intellectual prowess and school team spirit.

Organizers were delighted by the turnout, with teams from Patrick Henry High School, Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego High School, Pacific Ridge School, Cathedral Catholic High School, Westview High School, Fountain Valley High School, Hilltop High School, Gompers Preparatory Academy, and Beaumont High School all participating. Each team, composed of six players and sometimes alternates, displayed a contagious enthusiasm for the game.

The competition kicked off early, with the first eager competitor from San Diego High arriving before 9 a.m. The energy was palpable as the other teams followed suit, ready to engage in strategic battles throughout the day.

As the day unfolded, leaderboard teams began to solidify their positions. 

The final rounds were particularly nail-biting, with the face-off between Patrick Henry High School and Canyon Crest Academy in the fourth round. As the dust settled after the fifth and final round, three teams emerged as leaders with impressive 4-win records.

Canyon Crest Academy, captained by Roger Shi, emerged victorious with an impressive tally of 24.5 points. The team comprised Tan Vu, David Liu, Nathan Guo, Eleyn Xiong, Aditya Shah, Shane Sitaram, and Keshu Yang.

Patrick Henry High School, led by Kathryn Mokhov, finished a close second with 20.5 points. Their team members were Anthony Mokhov, Jonathan An, Fausto Borquez, Cole Winter, and Brody Thai.

Westview High School, captained by Wesley Rullman, secured a well-deserved third place with 18.5 points. The team comprised Harshith Bandi, Selina Chen, Rahul Jogadhenu, David He, and Alex Tajbakhsh.

This inaugural event marked a significant milestone for chess in San Diego, fostering a sense of community and friendly competition among young minds. 

The main organizers, Irina Nizmutdinova, San Diego Chess Club’s scholastic chairperson, and Jonathan Frye, a board member, confirmed the city club’s commitment to continuing this tradition and organizing next year’s chess championship for the local high schools.

Photos and copy courtesy of Irina Nizmutdinova