He Goes To 11

Phillip leads Illinois 11-year-olds; Ray shows up big at Wells tourney

Ray School sixth-grader Phillip Parker-Turner is the number-one eleven-year-old chess player in the state of Illinois, according to the latest ratings supplement from the United States Chess League. Phillip, whose rating has risen sharply this year, is now at 1631, which makes him number 65 nationally in his age group and higher than any eleven-year-old in the Land of Lincoln.

Phillip won another tournament earlier this month, finishing first in the Advanced section at the Youth Chess Foundation of Chicago meet at Wells Prep.

Ray was a big factor in that event overall, it turns out. Acquiting themselves well while being forced to play in the tournaments's combined Intermediate/Advanced section were Ray School's Abdel Raoul and George Vassilatos. The competition there is really tough, but both boys scored victories.

Making what may have been her tournament debut was George's youunger sister Angeliki Vassilatos, who also got on the board with a victory. Ray’s Oliver Jiang, a player with whom I admit I’m not familiar, scored a very impressive 3.5/5 to finish 26th among 129 players in the Beginner section.

Congratulations to all Ray chess players, and good luck in 2010.

Ending on a High Note

Two Ray kids led the way in the last major tournament of the year.


It was the last tournament of the year from the Youth Chess Foundation of Chicago, and two Ray School chess players grabbed top honors. Second grader Abdel Raoul, playing in only his second YCFC meet, nearly won first place in the 60-player beginner, section with a perfect 5.0/5 score in regular competition. He fell to second when he lost a tiebreaker game--his only loss of the day--to an older player from another school.

Ray fifth grader Phillip Parker-Turner, always the man to beat in the advanced section, himself managed to beat back all challengers with a perfect 5.0/5 score, to take overall top honors in the entire tournament.

Thanks to Mike Cardinale and the rest of the YCFC crew for another great year of free chess in the Chicago public schools. Thanks to Tonti Elementary School on the Southwest Side for hosting the meet.

More photos here.