More than 300 students from around the state competed for individual and team titles. Multiple divisions based on grade level and chess rating allow players of varying abilities and experience to play competitively.
Tournament organizer Mike Hofpauer explained that players are paired based on their ratings, saying, “Ratings are based not only on the strength of the opponent you play, but also on how well your opponent performed in the remaining matches played.” “It’s based on that,” he explains.
Hofpauer said the tournament has produced notable champions in the past, “In fact, Virginia-based Jennifer Yu won this tournament at the high school level and went on to become a two-time national champion.” “There is,” he said.
At this year’s event, Alexandria’s Thomas Jefferson High School won the K-12 team championship, led by 11th grade student Arash Vinod, who won the individual championship. Vinod and the other graded winners will represent Virginia in the annual State Champion Invitational held by the United States Chess Federation.
Hofpauer explains that this year’s winners won’t have to travel far to play in the national tournament. So Virginia players are in their backyard. ”
Complete results and information about the Virginia Chess Federation can be found here.
