Frazer School team wins national 11th-grade chess championship

Press release from The Frazer School

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Frazer School’s 11th-grade team of Abhiram Pothuri, Jerry Yao, and Jolie Huang won a national championship this past weekend at the U.S. Chess Federation’s National K-12 Grade Championships in Spokane, Washington. Akash Jani, also representing The Frazer School, took first place individually in the 5^th-grade division.

The 501(c)3 U.S. Chess Federation’s National K-12 Grade Championships took place from December 12 through 14 at the Spokane Convention Center in Spokane, Washington. This annual tournament takes place every December and is the only national tournament with no “Under” sections; instead, every player from each grade is placed in one section to compete for the title of Grade Champion. 

The Frazer School’s 11^th-grade team of Abhiram Pothuri, Jerry Yao, and Jolie Huang took first place, beating out elite teams from the New York area. All three of the team members also placed in the top 10 individually, and the same three individuals won the 10th-grade national championship last year.

The Frazer School’s Akash Jani took first place individually in the 5^th-grade division.

Frazer School Chess Coach Britt Ryerson said, “I am so proud of these kids. I have worked with several of them over many years, and it has been a great joy to watch them improve so dramatically over the years. All three of the team members won five of their seven matches. This is the kind of consistency you need to win team championships.”