Anna Korneeva (pictured above)
Sixth-grader, Sheepshead Bay
How was the tournament?
It was amazing for me personally. I won three out of six. I mostly lost to people who have a lot higher rating than me. But I rematched the first guy I lost to. And won. My third game, I blundered. I blundered a lot.
Why?
Because of the tournament. It got on my nerves because it had clocks timing ten minutes per player. I usually like to think a lot to make sure that I don’t blunder, but the time counting was just so pressuring.
How did you start playing?
In my local library. That’s where I met my chess teacher. He told me that
I was so good, and he called a nearby club on Brighton Beach, White Rook. I love chess because it’s a sport but it doesn’t require you to move a lot. I can’t really be a basketball player because I’m pretty short. But chess I can be amazing at because I have the brains.
Will Neider
Fourth-grader, Riverdale
Diondra Miller
Fifth-grader, Bedford-Stuyvesant
How’d the day go?
It was really hard because I kept getting paired with teenagers. When I’m in situations like that, I just get a little scared. I’m like, Oh, great, I’m going to lose. What I learned at the tournament is that if you see a move that works, don’t be afraid to play it. Don’t be a sloppy mess.
Derek Duan
Second-grader, Great Neck
William C. Francis
Building superintendent, Throgs Neck
Carlos Rodas
Fifth-grader, Marble Hill
Alek Toce
Fourth-grader, Mamaroneck
Tosin Somefun
Kindergartner, Grand Concourse
Shammo Rahman
Seventh-grader, Borough Park
Justin Green
Chess instructor, Forest Hills
What’s your favorite piece?
The knight. It has something that’s unique to it because it’s able to walk, turn, and sort of jump over other pieces. If you have a knight in the center of the board, it’s almost like a giant octopus.
Partho Nath
Chess-tournament director, Jamaica
Nile Miller
Second-grader, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Suhaan Virani
Fourth-grader, Corona
How long have you been playing?
Like a year now. The pandemic sucked, and we had nothing to do, so I just took advantage and learned how to play on YouTube. Now I play four-to-five hours a day. I like to watch this chess-teacher guy, GothamChess. No. 1, he’s an attacking chess player like me. No. 2, I would say he’s funny.
Sofia Chu
Fifth-grader, Lower East Side
Tolani Somefun
Fourth-grader, Grand Concourse
Do you play at your school?
Well, I have a chess club at school. I don’t fully run the chess club; however, I am the main person in the chess club. I came today because I really wanted to get the trophy. It went good, but I didn’t exactly get the trophy.
Johnthan Newkirk
Barber, Upper West Side
Rory Prescod
Third-form student, Christ Church, Barbados
Arjan Toce
Seventh-grader, Mamaroneck
Sahaj Virani
Second-grader, Corona
Will Neider
Fourth-grader, Riverdale
Diondra Miller
Fifth-grader, Bedford-Stuyvesant
How’d the day go?
It was really hard because I kept getting paired with teenagers. When I’m in situations like that, I just get a little scared. I’m like, Oh, great, I’m going to lose. What I learned at the tournament is that if you see a move that works, don’t be afraid to play it. Don’t be a sloppy mess.
Derek Duan
Second-grader, Great Neck
William C. Francis
Building superintendent, Throgs Neck
Carlos Rodas
Fifth-grader, Marble Hill
Alek Toce
Fourth-grader, Mamaroneck
Tosin Somefun
Kindergartner, Grand Concourse
Shammo Rahman
Seventh-grader, Borough Park
Justin Green
Chess instructor, Forest Hills
What’s your favorite piece?
The knight. It has something that’s unique to it because it’s able to walk, turn, and sort of jump over other pieces. If you have a knight in the center of the board, it’s almost like a giant octopus.
Partho Nath
Chess-tournament director, Jamaica
Nile Miller
Second-grader, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Suhaan Virani
Fourth-grader, Corona
How long have you been playing?
Like a year now. The pandemic sucked, and we had nothing to do, so I just took advantage and learned how to play on YouTube. Now I play four-to-five hours a day. I like to watch this chess-teacher guy, GothamChess. No. 1, he’s an attacking chess player like me. No. 2, I would say he’s funny.
Sofia Chu
Fifth-grader, Lower East Side
Tolani Somefun
Fourth-grader, Grand Concourse
Do you play at your school?
Well, I have a chess club at school. I don’t fully run the chess club; however, I am the main person in the chess club. I came today because I really wanted to get the trophy. It went good, but I didn’t exactly get the trophy.
Johnthan Newkirk
Barber, Upper West Side
Rory Prescod
Third-form student, Christ Church, Barbados
Arjan Toce
Seventh-grader, Mamaroneck
Sahaj Virani
Second-grader, Corona
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