I.S. 318 are (also) National Jr. Champions!
In what is an unprecedented even, IS-318 of Brooklyn, New York has won the National Jr. Chess Championship. This not their first national championship as they won the honor a couple of years back. However, they have made history by capturing both the National Jr. High and National High School titles in the same academic year.
Magnus Carlsen’s visit may have provided inspiration for James Black, Jr. who struggled a month earlier during the team’s championship run at the National H.S. tournament. He led the team with a strong 6/7.
Led this time by James Black, Jr., IS-318 topped the field with 20.5 points. The school had won the National H.S. Championship a month earlier… barely beating New York’s Hunter College. Team scores are calculated using the scores of the top four players of each school. Arizona’s Catalina Foothills came in second with 18.5 points while Newark Academy came in third with 16.5.
Black won the individual championship on tiebreaks, but was tied with Michael Brown (California’s Trabuco Hills H.S.) and Bryan Hu (Arizona Catalina Foothills H.S.) with 6/7. I.S. 318 also dominated in blitz taking four of the top five places. Sean Vibbert won followed by Black Jr. and Justus Williams.
With such a successful year and more than half a year left, what’s next… the Pan-Am Intercollegiate Championship??? Congratulations (again)!! 🙂
Results: https://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2012/jhs/?page=RESULTS
It’s worth mentioning that Black and Isaac Bareyev (also from IS 318) won the bughouse event at the National JHS. A rather impressive weekend.
I do wish that IS 318 and California’s Kennedy MS (which steamrolled the K-8) had faced off in the team competition. I can’t believe how strong the middle school teams have become. Unfortunately, these two powerhouse teams will never again face each other as currently comprised – IS 318’s top players are headed to different high schools next year. It’s the scholastic chess version of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. 🙂
Any leads on where they are going?
As I understand it…
Williams >> Bronx Center for Science and Math
Black >> Edward R. Murrow HS
Bareyev >> NEST+m (New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math)
Boyd, that is correct.
Justus Williams is going to Bronx Science? I had several buddies in college that were alumni. That is one kick butt high school for engineering prep!
Please note that to my knowledge that Bronx Center for Science and Math, and Bronx HighSchool of Science are two different schools.
On a broader note, if Justus and his family would like to discuss the possibility of entering a science career, I am open to providing any helpful insights. If I ever get back to a chess tournament, please just pull me aside, and I will make time to talk. For all those with science interests, please understand that I am generally available to help inspire you to aspire higher!
Peace,
Kimani A. Stancil