♟️ Summer Scholastic Showdown – Tournament Recap
📅 August 9, 2025 | 📍 Baruch Middle School, Gramercy Park, Manhattan
Hello!
Official Chess held another incredible Summer Saturday Scholastic Showdown, with almost 90 players from across NYC, Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut, and New Jersey descending on the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan to compete for cash, trophies, and glory.
Make sure to read the end of this recap for massive news you will not want to miss!
We were absolutely honored to have Grandmaster and World Correspondence Chess Champion Jon Edwards join us, alongside the Original Life Master Eric Fleischman — both legends 🤴 of the game who brought their world-class expertise right to the heart of the tournament! Between rounds, these champions gave priceless game reviews and coaching to kids from any school who chose that option, lighting the way with insights and encouragement that inspired every competitor.
It was a truly incredible way to spend a summer day — indoors battling it out over 64 squares and tuning up for the scholastic chess season kicking off this fall.
Premier (u500)
The Premier (U500) was non-stop action! Brian Zeng of Saddle Rock Elementary stormed through the field — perfect 4.0, no mercy, gold medal in hand! 🥇
Chasing him was Oliver Zhang from PS 124, playing sharp and fearless to lock down second with 3.0. 🥈
And then came the tiebreak thriller — Funmilayo Adewumi of IS 318 snatching 3rd with 2.0 after a nail-biting finish! 🥉 Right there with 2.0 was Charles Chen from Waverly School, grabbing 4th and a well-earned spot on the podium.
From start to finish — big moves, big drama, and big results!
Elite (u1000)
Elite (U1000) was an absolute thriller! Aurora Golovicher, the returning champ from Brearley, came in swinging and did it again — perfect 4.0! Not just winning, but crushing it, blasting her USCF rating up by a jaw-dropping 230 points to 1088! And get this — she’s not even in first grade yet! This kid is on fire, undefeated in every Official Chess tournament she’s played.
But the heat was on — Marcus Grecu from Success Academy Upper West matched Aurora blow for blow with his own perfect 4.0. It all came down to the dreaded tiebreaks… and Marcus just missed the top spot, taking a hard-fought second place.
No easing up for third — Alistair Cheng from Q300 claimed 3rd with 3.0 points, showing he means business. Right on his heels was another kindergartner powerhouse, Miles Schill from German International School New York, also with 3.0 for 4th place.
And the battle didn’t stop there — six other fierce competitors locked in 3.0 points, just missing the podium but earning well-deserved trophies for their strong performances: Qiwei Wang from Lakeville Elementary, Theodore Lam from The Anderson School, Siddharth Natarajan from Jericho Middle School, Hannah Zimmerman from NEST+m, Isaac Xiong from Edgwood Elementary, and Lucien Borges Guillermo from IS 318.
This was chess at full throttle — young stars rising, fierce battles fought, and every move bringing the crowd to the edge of their seats!
Grand (u1500)
In a hyper-competitive Grand (U1500) section, the battle was fierce — but one player rose above it all! Saashi Jain from Central Jersey College Prep Charter School made the trek all the way from Somerset and absolutely dominated the field with a perfect 4.0! She didn’t just take home the first-place trophy — she blasted her USCF rating up by an incredible 209 points to 1250! What a performance! 🏆
Hot on her heels, the competition stayed tight. Shawn Koza from NEST+m took 2nd place, Vaness Xu from JHS 194 claimed 3rd, and Eric Liu from Heathcote School finshed 4th and all powered through to claim the podium with strong 3.0 scores.
The fight for the top spots didn’t stop there — Eva Hu from MS 158, Jonathan Katz (not pictured) from Rodeph Sholom School, and Isabelle Kao from PS 11 all scored 3.0 but just missed out on the top four due to tie breaks.
This section was a whirlwind of tactical brilliance and relentless determination — proof that the next generation of chess stars is ready to take the crown!
Championship (u2000)
Welcome to the ultimate heavyweight showdown — an all-out war for supremacy that kept everyone on the edge of their seats! And in a stunning twist, one of the youngest warriors emerged to take top honors. Brendan T. Seto, just a 3rd grader from PS 281 The River School, went undefeated with an electrifying 3.5 points — 3 wins and a clutch draw — claiming sole possession of first place and walking away with the full $250 prize!
But that’s not all — Brendan’s powerhouse performance blasted his USCF rating past the 1700 mark for the first time.
The fight at the top was razor-close, with four players locked in a dead heat for second place at 3.0 points each. Jacob Bleiberg (not pictured), a fearless 2nd grader from Browning, Oliver Lam of The Anderson School, Noah Hsu representing IS 318, and Seojin Park from Hunter College Campus Schools — each showed true grit and earned a well-deserved $62.50 for their heroic efforts.
This section wasn’t just the toughest on paper — it was a battlefield of talent, heart, and relentless determination. Chess drama at its finest!
Team Awards
The team battle was just as fierce as the individual fights, with powerhouse squads claiming their spots on the podium! In the Premier/Elite Team section, the perennial champions Tag Young Scholars dominated once again, taking home the coveted 1st place trophy. Hot on their heels, Speyer Legacy School battled hard for 2nd place, while IS 318 secured a strong 3rd — proving their deep roster of talent.
Over in the Grand/Championship Team section, Hunter College Campus Schools rose to the top with a commanding performance to claim 1st place. Getting coached up in between rounds by their legendary leader Elizabeth Spiegel 👸, IS 318 kept their momentum going, snagging 2nd place, and PS 130M rounded out the podium in 3rd.
Teamwork, strategy, and unbreakable spirit defined these battles — a true showcase of chess excellence across the board!
Learning and Growing
A huge thank you to everyone who participated — whether you came from down the block or from another state. It was inspiring to see so many motivated, talented, and smiling players giving it their all.
A huge shoutout and massive thanks to GM Jon Edwards, OLM Eric Fleischman, and all the families whose support made this inaugural event not just possible, but a soaring success. This was more than a tournament — it was a celebration of chess, community, and future champions in the making!
Official US Chess Event Summary
https://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?202508099202-30311287
🚨 Mark Your Calendars – The Countdown is ON! 🚨
Get ready, New York! On January 3rd and 4th, 2026, the legendary Marriott Marquis, Times Square will host the 1st Annual New York Metro Area Scholastic Chess Championships — and this promises to be the biggest, boldest, most electric scholastic chess event the city has seen in years.
You do NOT want to miss the inaugural Metros! This is your chance to witness history in the making, to compete alongside the best, and to be part of a chess revolution sweeping through NYC.
👉 RSVP NOW and be the first to get tickets when they go on sale. Secure your spot in what will be an unforgettable celebration of strategy, skill, and NY scholastic pride!
🔗 Official US Chess Listing: new.uschess.org/save-date-championship-chess-back-nyc-january-3rd-and-4th-2026
🔗 RSVP Here: officialchess.org/event/rsvp2026metros
Get ready to make moves — and memories — that will last a lifetime! ♟🔥