On Sunday, November 24, 2024, Edison High’s very own Chess Club achieved a feat at a statewide tournament, securing first and third place in their respective sections, marking the second year of triumphs in the tournament.
Despite being one of the smallest teams present, the sophomore team, consisting of Navaneeth Krishna ’27, Aarush Prajapati ‘27, and Karthikeyan Saravanamoorthy ‘27, managed to win first place.
The junior team, with only two people—Shreeram Ramabhadran ‘26 and Tejas Rama ‘26—achieved third place among teams more than double their size.
On the other hand, the EHS Chess Team’s previous trophy is displayed in the STEM wing. It is found to the right of the entrance, serving as a reminder for the team’s past achievements.
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Club co-president Tejas Rama ’26 (left) concentrates on his next move. In tournament play, participants have to complete their match within a set time limit, controlled by a clock at each table.
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The EHS Junior Team, (from left) Shreeram Ramabhadran ’26 and Tejas Rama ’26, stand with the third place award.
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Team prizes, ranging from first to sixth place, ready to be distributed for the sophomore section of the tournament.
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The EHS sophomore team, (from left) Karthikeyan Saravanamoorthy ’27, Aarush Prajapati ’27, Navaneeth Krishna ’27, stand with their first place award.
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“I was happy to see our team numbers increase from last year but I think we could have more people. Overall, I am honestly proud of our result and we can definitely keep this up,” said Navaneeth Krishna ‘27, club co-president.
Students point out the great performance of chess club members and the higher potential it can have with more admissions. The club is looking to continue its streak and is actively recruiting new members from all levels of Edison High’s student body. The club points out that more members not only bring a variety of skills together but also enhance competitiveness and allow members to engage with a wider variety of players for practice.
“There are many good chess players in this school, and their participation will help the chess club a lot,” said Wisdom Oyemi ’25, the club’s secretary.
Club members acknowledged the wide range of people interested in playing chess, some of whom even play at every chance they get. They are hoping to bring more players into upcoming meetings and tournaments. The board also hopes to foster an environment where seasoned players and beginners can thrive and a strong-knit chess community at EHS. In the near future, the club plans school tournaments, casual game days, and workshops to sharpen skills, among many other ideas to sharpen skills.