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At the All-Girls National Championships, the Chess Queens of Success Academy Triumph

At the 15th Annual All-Girls National Chess Championships, Success Academy scholars knocked it out of the park! Twenty-seven scholars from seven schools travelled to Chicago to compete this past weekend, and they dominated the tournament. The SA High School of the Liberal Arts team placed first in the U18 division, beating out acclaimed Stuyvesant High School. SA Hudson Yards sixth-grader Nura Baalla became the national champion in the Under 12 division, winning 5.5 out of six games, with her team tying for first place.

The city has taken notice! The Success Academy victories were reported on by the NY Post, congratulated in a tweet from Mayor de Blasio, featured on Pix11!

In total, Success Academy scholars and teams took home seven trophies, including five in the top three spots!

  • National Champions, Under 18: SA High School of the Liberal Arts
  • 2nd place team, Under 16: SA Bed Stuy 1 Middle School
  • National Champion, Under 12: Nura Baalla, SA Hudson Yards Middle School
  • Co-National Champions (placed 2nd in tie breaks), Under 12: SA Hudson Yards Middle School
  • 4th place team, Under 12: SA Midtown West Middle School
  • 6th place team, Under 12: SA Myrtle Middle School
  • 3rd place team (tie break for 2nd) Under 10: SA Hudson Yards Middle School

This tremendous accomplishment is a testimony to the hard work of our chess players, as well as the dedication or our amazing chess coaches. Congratulations to all!

SA Bed Stuy 1 Middle School: Jessica Hyatt, Tabia Davis, Layla Crippen, Geah Jean Baptiste, Coach: Tyrell Harriott

SA High School of the Liberal Arts: Ka-Nefer Petersen, Reanna Philips, Kadidia Sylla, Ramla Mohammed. Coach: Jonathan Munnell

SA Hudson Yards Middle School: U12 team: Nura Baalla, Ann Goldey, Emily Booncharoen; U10 team: Pari Patni, Maya Mukherji, Rachel Prizant. Coach: Christopher Johnson

SA Midtown West Middle School: Noni Hardaway, Ava Trujillo, Taise Martinez. Coach: David Campbell

SA Myrtle Middle School: Annika Parsia, Nicole Leonardo, Sabrina Addo, Delilah Tavarez. Coach: Alexander Beltre

SA Union Square: Anya Omer, Minal Omer, Helen Best. Coach: Nicholas Norman

SA Washington Heights: Milana Ward, Almes Ahmia, Subi Bencosme-Lee. Coach: Liam Murphy

Written by Success Academy April 27, 2018

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