Kindergarten students Jacob Rust and Praketh Bathi
Left to Right: Vibhu, Gautam, Jacob, Praketh, Akhil, and Nikhil Back: Stephen Brady
Left to Right: Nasi, Nabiha, Chiran, Gokul, Nivas, James, Henry, and Sid
Elementary Champion Henry Veys of McCallie School with McCallie Coach Michael Ake (right) and Tim Sams, Region II director
Oliver Nimon of Nolan Elementary
Nicholas Barrett of Nolan Elementary
Sonny Ravinder of McCallie School
High School Champion, Suhas Gummadi of East Hamilton
Several students from the Chattanooga area placed in the Tennessee Region 2 Chess Championship on Saturday, which includes kids from 25 counties.
The Primary Section included students from kindergarten to third grade. Akhil Giddaluri, third grader at Brainerd Baptist School, took first place with a perfect score. His brother, Nikhil, was second place. In third place was Gautam Karella of Big Ridge Elementary. Vibhu Thommala of West View Elementary placed seventh. Kindergarten student Jacob Rust took the 10th place trophy, and Praketh Bathi, kindergartener at St. Nicholas School, was the Top Unrated player. Stone Caputo of Bright School was 17th place in his first tournament.
In the Elementary Section, which is up to sixth grade, Henry Veys of McCallie School took first place with a perfect score. Sid Puttagunta of St. Nicholas School took second place. Nivas Gummadi of East Brainerd Elementary was third. Oliver Nimon of Nolan Elementary and Nicholas Barrett of Signal Mountain Middle School, took fifth place and seventh place respectively to qualify for state. Milo Newton and Everett Paulson of Thrasher Elementary took eighth and ninth place, with both moving on the State. Nabiha Rahman of Bright School was the Top Unrated player in the elementary section.
Chiran Chinnasamy of CSAS (14th place), Nasi Rahman of McCallie School (15th place), Gokul Palanati of Westview Elementary (17th place) competed well and finished just outside of the medals.
In the Junior High Section, Thomas Nimon of Baylor School tied for first place, and took third place after the playoff tiebreaker . Sonny Ravinder of McCallie came in sixth place, with the Baylor standout edging out his McCallie counterpart in their individual encounter.
In the High School Section, ninth grader Suhas Gummadi took clear first place, and looks to finish well at the State Championship.
The top 8 players in each section qualify for the State Chess Championship on Feb. 18 in Cookeville.