IESA Headlines

2024 IESA Chess State Tournament to Play in Peoria

Over 750 students representing 66 member schools of the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) will compete in the 13th annual IESA Chess State Tournament at the Peoria Civic Center on February 23-24. A complete list of participating schools can be found on the IESA website at:

https://www.iesa.org/activities/participants.asp?activitycode=CHS

There are three divisions---6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade. A school can enter up to 10 individuals in each division. The tournament will be conducted in a Medley Team Swiss System format. Students with varying degrees of experience will be participating.

The State Competition is comprised of eight rounds with students participating in all eight rounds of play. The first round on Friday is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Round two will not begin before 12:00 p.m.; the third round will not begin before 1:30 p.m.; the fourth round will not begin before 3:00 p.m.; and the fifth round of play will not begin before 4:30 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, round six will begin at 9:00 a.m.; round seven not before 10:45 a.m.; and round eight not before 12:45 p.m. Results will be posted on the IESA website as each round is concluded.

There will be an awards ceremony after the conclusion of round eight on Saturday, February 24 at approximately 2:45 p.m. Individual and team awards for all three divisions will be distributed.

The complete tournament schedule can be found at:

https://www.iesa.org/activities/chs/IESA-CHS_Schedule.pdf

Additional tournament information, plus the FanZone can be found at www.iesa.org. Click on the Chess line at the top of the IESA website home page. Should weather become a factor, the IESA website will contain up-to-date information regarding the tournament playing schedule.

Bloomington Evans won the 6th and 7th grade team titles in 2023, while Dunlap MS captured the 8th grade title. The cumulative scores of the individual points from the top five scorers of each team determine the order of finish. The top four teams in each division will take home state trophies.

The individual champion in the 6th grade division in 2023 was Varun Gurramkonda from Dunlap Valley MS. He scored 7.5 out of a possible 8.0 points to claim the top spot. He returns this year and is participating in the 7th grade division. Vamsi Munaganuri from Bloomington Evans scored a perfect 8.0 to take the title last year in the 7th Grade division. He returns this year and is competing in the 8th grade division. In the 8th Grade division Michael Li from Dunlap MS won with a perfect score of 8.0. Michael Li was co-champion in 2022 in the 7th grade division with a score of 7.5.

Admission is free to the event. Fans are allowed in the room where the competition is being held but they are not allowed on the floor itself where the matches are being played.

For more information, please contact IESA Assistant Executive Director and Chess Administrator, Charlie Shempf at 309-829-0114 or charlie@iesa.org.