Published May 25th, 2011
Checkmate: Los Perales 2nd Place
Submitted by May Lo
Top Row: Hari Stoyanov, David Stambuch, Ryan Yick, Sean Donovan, Jack Yang Bottom Row: Suleman Syed, Richard Gross, Delu Zhao, Zack Donovan, Leopold Gross, Jillian Yick Photo May Lo
The ten members of the Los Perales Elementary School chess team are celebrating their second place win at the Berkeley Chess School Elementary School Tournament held on Saturday, May 7, at Cragmont School in Berkeley. One hundred and sixteen students from thirty four schools in five Bay Area counties competed in six games of chess during five hours of play. Los Perales and Ocean View (Albany) were tied for first place through the fifth game. Two other Lamorinda schools, Glorietta and Burton Valley, were also in attendance.

Los Perales third grader Sean Donovan went undefeated, winning all six games, and fourth grader Ryan Yick won five out of six games. Donovan's and Yick's individual scores were also ranked among the tournament's top ten scores. Six year old kindergartener, Zack Donovan, the youngest participant in the tournament, won three of his six games. Los Perales' top four players, Sean Donovan, Ryan Yick, Hari Stoyanov, and Jack Yang received trophies and the remaining team members received medals.

The Los Perales (LP) chess team is comprised of students from every grade and is coached by Berkeley Chess School instructor David Stambuch in LP's chess after school enrichment program.

Los Perales Chess Team

Sean Donovan (3rd Grade)

Zack Donovan (Kindergarten)

Leopold Gross (1st Grade)

Richard Gross (3rd Grade)

Hari Stoyanov (2nd Grade)

Suleman Syed (5th Grade)

Jack Yang (5th Grade)

Jillian Yick (5th Grade)

Ryan Yick (4th Grade)

Delu Zhao (2nd Grade)



Top Ten Schools

1. Ocean View 21.0 (Albany)

2. Los Perales 19.5 (Moraga)

3. Marin 17.5 (Albany)

4. Head Royce 17.5 (Oakland)

5. Cornell 16.5 (Albany)

6. Havens 16.0 (Piedmont)

7. Kaiser 15.5 (Oakland)

8. Dorris-Eaton 15.0 (Walnut Creek)

9. Beach 14.0 (Piedmont)

10. Jefferson 13.5 (Berkeley)


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