ChessPalace Scholastic Program

In the summer of 2003, the scholastics program at ChessPalace was started. It began with four students and the numbers has grown since. Now, ChessPalace has more than 50 students with group classes three times a week and almost half a dozen junior events every month.

ChessPalace organizes scholastics tournaments throughout the year including Spring Scholastics, Junior Qualifier, Summer Fiesta at Santa Monica Beach Chess Park, Halloween Scholastics Open, and Junior Open. In addition, weekly tournaments have attracted advanced juniors.

In March 2010, ChessPalace also organized the Southern California Super States Chess Championship at the Orange County Great Park. It was to become the largest scholastic event in Southern California attracting more than 600 participants.

ChessPalace students have shown success over the board. In 2004, Brett Gonzales, won first place in the West Coast Scholastic Chess Championship in San Luis Obispo, CA. In 2005, Team ChessPalace won first place in the U.S. Amateur Scholastic Team Tournament in San Pedro, CA. In 2006 in Las Vegas, Shelley Anthopolous and Christina Kao won first team girls under 10 in the 2006 Susan Polgar World Open Championship. In 2007, ChessPalace again finished in the top 3 in the U.S. Amateur Scholastic Team. In 2008, Joaquin Perkins became the highest rated four-year-old in the country. In March 2010, Justin Hsu finished with a perfect score in the Super States primary reserve section bring home a trophy much taller than he was. Less than two months later, Team ChessPalace won the California Scholastic Chess Open best team. Success of ChessPalace students have not just been over the board, majority of students have skipped grades, are in honor rolls, enrolled in two or more grades higher in math or reading.

ChessPalace has also been part of the community with chess classes held in elementary schools as far out as Long Beach. Our goals include initiating interest in chess, improved academics, heightened analytical and problem solving skills, concentration, and patience. An upcoming non-profit organization called Chess Start is going through its final stages of processing that will enable us to further promote chess to the kids and the community.