Courtesy photo
Aryan Vats wins top honors at Chess Tournament
The 42nd Annual Student Chess Tournament was held at the Millburn Library on December 2, 2023. The tournament was started in 1981 through the support of the Friends of Millburn Library. Michael David Wojcio, longtime president of the Kenilworth Chess Club, directed a chess tournament until 2010 when master Scott Massey took the lead. Massey also teaches the Saturday afternoon chess classes at the library.
The Tournament attracted 40 students aged 5-14. There were some tears, but mostly cheers for the fun of playing and competing against many schoolmates. Players came from distant towns and even New Your City to compete.
The first place honors for the oldest group, went to Aryan Vats, an eighth grader from Millburn Middle School. He was undefeated, winning three games and drawing one. There were ten players, 11-14 years old, competing. Max Li. a seventh grader for Millburn Middle School came in second place. He was also undefeated, winning two games and drawing 2.
Friends president Dorothy Kelly made sure that the tournament was well organized with much behind the scene work. Ruthie Binder and Michelle Brubaker greeted the children before entering the tournament hall. The 42nd Annual had apt help from Keigo Fujito, Minna Kelly, Daniel Klemchuk and Ethan Pu who aided during the tournament.
Results
Section I, 5-7 year olds, 13 Players
- 1st Place: James Fujita, NYC
- 2nd Place: Saharsh Bindal, Deerfield
- 3rd Place: Rishi Sambasivan, Hartshorn
- 4th Place: Arjun Korada, Glenwood
In Section II, 8-10 year olds, 17 players
- 1st Place: Arin Telang, Washington
- 2nd Place: William Zou, Hartshorn
- 3rd Place: Sanya Deb,Salt Brook,
- 4th Place: Himansh Rathod. Hartshorn
- 5th Place: Onel Manoratne Glenwood
- 6th Place: Joshua Sacks Hartshorn
Section III, 11-14 years old, 10 players
- 1st Place: Aryan Vats, Millburn
- 2nd Place: Max Li, Millburn
- 3rd: Place: Ches Chen, Livingston
- 4th Place: Mahan Malhotra, Millburn
- 5th Place: Atharv Karamcheti.
