Russel Byers’s CS success

Russell Byers’ Chess Team Makes It To Nationals
By Erin Maguire, The Bulletin
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Evening Bulletin – Philadelphia, PA, USA

The Knights Chess Team at Russell Byers Charter School recently clinched first place in their division at the Pennsylvania Scholastic Championship. Now, they are raising money to make a trip to Nashville, Tenn., for the National Elementary Chess Championship in April.

At March 7’s competition in Carlisle, Russell Byers led in the first three rounds. The team dropped to third place in the fourth round and needed all its players to win the fifth round to reclaim first place. In a suspenseful competition, each Russell Byers’ team member won his or her final game, granting the school No. 1 status.

In addition to besting suburban and private schools to win its division, Russell Byers also had four of its players place in the top 20 for the division. These sixth graders are: Ayannah Woods, Dyamond Alen, Troy Perry and Marquise Marner.

Russell Byers’ chess team is 5 years old, but it did not start competing until last year. In 2008, the team went to nationals in Pittsburgh where the K-3 team finished 19th, and the K-6 team finished 11th.

Here is the full article.