The Frazer School chess team wins 2026 U.S. Amateur Team playoffs

Press release from The Frazer School

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Frazer School’s chess team won the 2026 U.S. Amateur Team playoffs, contested online on September 12. The team — Bach Ngo, Abhiram Pothuri, Jerry Yao, and Jolie Huang – earned its spot in the national playoffs by winning the South regional earlier this year, ahead of nearly 50 teams. 

There are four in-person U.S. Amateur Team regionals held annually in February — North, South, East, and West — and they are open to all ages. During both the South regional and the online playoffs, The Frazer School’s opponents were a mix of scholastic and adult players. The U.S. Amateur Team tournaments are unique because 4-person teams face off head-to-head — board 1 vs. board 1, board 2 vs. board 2, etc. To earn a match win, one team simply has to outscore the other team. 

The playoffs featured the champion teams from the four regionals. In the semifinal against the North’s representative, The Frazer School comfortably advanced by a score of 5.5-2.5. Shortly after, the national title was captured with an identical 5.5-2.5 tally, this time against the top team from the West. Jolie Huang was The Frazer School’s leading scorer, with an outstanding result of 3 wins and 1 draw while playing on board 4. 

Team captain and International Master Bach Ngo played on board 1 and was excited to compete alongside his high school classmates one more time as he prepares to begin undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago. Ngo said, “Last year we made it to the playoffs and finished second. This year we had one goal — to be champions. I couldn’t be more proud of my teammates.”