Inaugural 2024 Buffalo Middle School (K-7) Chess Championship Results

Submitted by Michael A. Mc Duffie, USCF Tournament Director

Shown above is Roderick Moppins, 1st grader, a member of the “Black Diamonds”(TM) Enrichment Youth Chess Club attends the Buffalo Academy of Science, youngest chess player who defeated a fourth and fifth graders.

The “Black Diamonds” Chess club, a weekly youth chess program, which meets every Thursday nights at the Frank E Merriweather Library, located at 1324 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo NY.

~ Photos contributed by the Archangel 8 Chess Academy.

The Archangel 8 Chess Academy, which is dedicated to enriching the lives of the next generation, celebrated its twenty five years of chess programming by hosting the Inaugural 2024 Buffalo Middle School (K-7) Chess Championship on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the Buffalo & Erie County Public library of Buffalo NY.

The scholastic middle school chess championship attracted a diverse group of nineteen students competing in two sections of play. Registered students represented the following schools: Allegany Home schoolers, Acellus Academy Home schoolers, Buffalo Academy of Science Charter, Casey Middle, Cheektowaga, Clarence Middle, Clinton Elementary, Country Parkway, Cleveland Elementary, Elmwood Village Charter, Hamburg Middle, Heim Middle, Orchard Park, South Davis Elementary, Transit Middle and Windemere.

Trophies and custom olympic size medals were awarded in the 5/14 Memorial (K-5) Elementary section, Top team was Allegany Home school led by Champion – USCF rated Sylvia Bysiek, second place – USCF rated Juliana Bysiek. Third place to Phineas Everett. Honorable mentions were Griffin Burns, Selena Sun, Rodderick Moppins and Alex Kagan.

Roderick Moppins pictured at right.

In the Frank E. Merriweather Library (K-7) section, Top team was Transit Middle led by, Champion – USCF rated Stella Liu, second place – Andrew Yuang, third place was USCF rated Logan Marzahn. Honorable mentions were Rudra Pratap Singh, Edward Poladyan, Amogh Keluskar and Jacob Kagan.

Kudos to Rodderick Moppins, Buffalo Academy of Science, first grader playing in his first chess championship defeated fourth and fifth graders. Sylvia and Juliana Bysiek recently played in the 2023 Pan American Youth Chess Championships, a nine game championship held in Chicago. Stella Liu finished 8th place at the All Girls National Chess Championships, held in Chicago, IL.

Assisting was Jonathan Boone, a member of the Black Diamonds enrichment Youth Chess Club and graduate of East High School. He was a member of the 2008 National Scholastic (K-12) High School Chess team that also earned a second Top 25 National team trophy in Nashville, TN.

Archangel 8 Chess Academy and Michael A. Mc Duffie, USCF Chess Coach provides group and private chess lessons, enrichment youth programs and after-school programs. The Academy host bimonthly U.S.C.F. tournaments at the Frank E. Merriweather library in the Masten District.

Save the date for 2024 World Chess Day on Saturday, July 20, 2024. For more information, please reply to: Knightsof64@yahoo.com.