Checkmate! WPCSD students shine at regional chess tournament

These White Plains City School District students have all the right moves!

From novice chess players to seasoned competitors building their ratings, the district’s young strategists made a strong showing across multiple divisions at a tournament at Seely Place School in Scarsdale, where they brought home team trophies and individual honors.

“It is particularly exciting that we have many new players who played in a chess tournament for the first time and started out in the unrated sections,” said Yunting Lin, chess parent coordinator. “Without ratings at stake, these friendly games are a great place to start experiencing chess tournaments in a low-stress setting.

“All tournament rules and etiquette are followed, where children play quietly to consider their moves,” the Highlands School parent said. “With the lunchtime chess program growing ever stronger year after year, both Post Road teams brought back team trophies this weekend and we are really happy for the kiddos!”

Post Road School led the way in the unrated sections, where players compete without official rankings.

The school captured second place in the K-1 team division, with Dara Pavsner, Hannah Lissy-Windham, Vian Ramamurthi, Cooper Cummins and Lyric Glanville combining for a second-place finish.

In Grades 2-5, Post Road earned a third-place team trophy, powered by Ethan Santos, Sanjay Ramamurthi, Isaiah Lissy-Windham, Vida Valentina Delarosa and Amelia Buchwald.

Amelia also made an individual mark, finishing second overall in the Grades 2-5 unrated section.

In the rated sections — where results impact official U.S. Chess rankings — White Plains students continued to make their presence felt.

In the Reserve Section (Individual), Logan Rutberg of Ridgeway placed 10th, followed by Eastview’s Zeke Bennett Ross in 12th. Logan also teamed with John Buyuktosunoglu to help Ridgeway capture the third-place team trophy, demonstrating depth and consistency across the board.

At the highest level of competition, the Championship Section, Fernando Zuloeta of Highlands earned an impressive fourth-place finish, holding his own against some of the tournament’s top-rated players.

For many students, however, the biggest win wasn’t measured in trophies or rankings, but in experience. They learn how to think ahead, stay composed and, sometimes, recover from a tough position.

It’s all part of the district’s growing chess culture, where lunchtime programs are helping young scholars sharpen their minds one move at a time.