2020 All Girls State Chess smashes attendance records

MADISON – Held at Liberty Middle School, the 2020 All Girls State Chess Championship smashed attendance totals for previous years to set a new state record.

For 2020, the All Girls Championship attracted 52 girls on Feb. 22 to compete in three sections: K-3, K-6 and K-12.

“Madison set a new state record for the All-Girls State Championship,” Ranae Bartlett said. Bartlett is Executive Director of Madison City Chess League or MCCL, which hosted the tournament.

“Liberty Middle School was the ideal venue for this event, now in its third year. A big thank-you to Liberty Principal Shannon Brown and Liberty Chess Team Sponsor Whitney Stemple for being such great hosts for the state event,” Bartlett said.

MCCL also thanked State Sen. Arthur Orr for sponsoring the 2020 championship. They extended appreciation to NASA, House of Staunton, US Chess and the St. Louis Chess Club for their support. City Councilwoman Maura Wroblewski assisted with the awards presentation.

Tournament directors were Todd Guthrie, Jeff Meyer and Guy Calinsky.

The following players earned top honors in the All Girl Championship:

* K-3 Section — Individual winners Emma Kuang, first; Samsara Rajbhandari, second; Annabelle Hsu, third; Harsha Bheemanathini, fourth; Kylie Zou, fifth; and tied for fifth-place medal Cora Newberry, Esinam Tettey, Eiliyah Hafiez and Abigail Barbre.

* K-6 Section — Individual winners Caroline Wang, first; Advitiya Kana, second; Nirvana Rajbhandari, third; Nora Farris, fourth; Sophia Li, fifth; and tied for fifth-place medal Sahithi Mynampally, Kate Meyer, Christine Wang and Isabelle Bao.

* K-12 Section — Individual winners Constance Wang, first; Sarvagna Velidandla, second; Shreya Sunil, third; Kennedy Gore, fourth; and Puja Chopade, fifth.

As winner of the K-12 section, Constance Wang will be Alabama’s candidate to the Ruth Haring National Girls Tournament of Champions in summer 2020.

For more information, visit madisonchess.com.