Bronx charter school takes state chess championship in grand fashion

A chess team from The Rosalyn Yalow Charter School in the South Bronx won first place at the 58th annual New York State Scholastic Chess Championships on March 13 and the team will now compete at the National Scholastic Chess Championships in Baltimore on May 1.

- By LLOYD B. DAVIS

Rosalyn Yalow Charter School students with their first place state chess championship trophy. (Rosalyn Yalow Charter School photo)

(Rosalyn Yalow Charter School photo)

The 26 Rosalyn students, divided into four teams, competed in the tournament against a staggering 1,750 students from across New York State, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Montreal, Canada. Three other teams from the school finished in second, third, and fourth place.

Some notable players from Rosalyn’s team include six-year-old Roger Basurto, one of the youngest players in the competition, and 11-year-old Ishaan Nikhil, who only started playing chess in the fall.