We’re now at the three-quarter mark of what has been a very fun Elementary Team League season. As always, we were happy to see many new faces at yesterday’s matches. Playing in the ETL is a great start point for students who want to build up the skills and confidence to represent their schools in other competitions.
In the overall season standings, Spring Hill has edged slightly ahead of its closest pursuers with the results of Saturday’s games, but several other schools remain in striking distance with two matchdays to go.
Yesterday evening, February 7, was the fifth round of this season’s Metro Area Chess League. Richard Montgomery High School (Rockville, MD) saw their win streak come to an end when they drew their match 2-2 against Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, MD), but they still hold the overall lead in the standings with 4.5 match points. Langley High School (McLean, VA), Falls Church High School (Falls Church, VA) and Arlington Career Center (Arlington, VA) all won their matches to join Montgomery Blair in a tie for second place, half a point off the lead in what is shaping to be a very close race for the four playoff spots.
Round 5 Results
Montgomery Blair High School 2-2 Richard Montgomery High School
Arlington Career Center 4-0 Seneca Valley High School
Winston Churchill High School 0.5-3.5 Langley High School
Gonzaga College High School 1-3 Falls Church High School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School 2-2 West Springfield High School
W.T. Woodson High School 1-3 Rochambeau French Intl. School
St. John’s College High School 2-2 McLean High School
DeMatha Catholic High School 2-2 St. Anselm’s Abbey School
Sidwell Friends School 3-1 Rockville High School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey 1.5-2.5 Washington Intl. School
Centreville High School 3.5-0.5 St. Albans School
BASIS DC 2-2 Georgetown Preparatory School
Eastern High School 2-2 Bishop McNamara High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School 0.5-3.5 Sandy Spring Friends School
Standings After Round 5
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st
Richard Montgomery High School
4.5
15
2nd (Tie)
Montgomery Blair High School
4
15
2nd (Tie)
Langley High School
4
15
4th (Tie)
Falls Church High School
4
14
4th (Tie)
Arlington Career Center
4
14
6th
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
3.5
13
7th
Gonzaga College High School
3
13
8th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
3
12
8th (Tie)
Centreville High School
3
12
10th (Tie)
Winston Churchill High School
3
11.5
10th (Tie)
Washington Intl. School
3
11.5
10th (Tie)
Rochambeau, the French International School
3
11.5
13th
Seneca Valley High School
3
11
14th (Tie)
Rockville High School
2.5
11
14th (Tie)
McLean High School
2.5
11
14th (Tie)
Sidwell Friends School
2.5
11
17th
W.T. Woodson High School
2.5
10
18th
St. Anselm’s Abbey School
2.5
10
19th
St. John’s College High School
2
9.5
20th (Tie)
BASIS DC
2`
8.5
20th (Tie)
Sandy Spring Friends School
2
8.5
22nd (Tie)
DeMatha Catholic High School
2
7
22nd (Tie)
Bishop McNamara High School
2
7
24th
Don Bosco Cristo Rey
1.5
7.5
25th
Georgetown Preparatory School
1.5
7
26th
St. Albans School
1.5
6
27th
Eastern High School
1
6
28th
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
0.5
3.5
29th
McKinley Technology High School
0
1
30th
IDEA Public Charter School
0
0
Round 6 Pairings
Richard Montgomery High School – Falls Church High School
Montgomery Blair High School – Arlington Career Center
Langley High School – Centreville High School
Rochambeau French Intl. School – West Springfield High School
Washington Intl. School – Seneca Valley High School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School – Winston Churchill High School
McLean High School – DeMatha Catholic High School
Georgetown Preparatory School – W.T. Woodson High School
Bishop McNamara High School – Don Bosco Cristo Rey
Rockville High School – Sandy Spring Friends School
Gonzaga College High School – Sidwell Friends School
St. John’s High School – BASIS DC
St. Anselm’s Abbey School – St. Albans School
Eastern High School – E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
The competition is tightening at the top of the Elementary Team League as we move further into the season. Spring Hill Elementary holds the lead after yesterday’s day of matches, but five other schools are within 13 points of the top spot. Since schools can earn a maximum of 32 points on a given matchday, this season’s competition looks set to go all the way to the final day of matches at the end of March.
Greenbriar West Elementary was a standout performer in last Saturday’s meeting, sweeping both of their matches 4-0 to catch up to the battle for the lead. Three matchdays remain in the season, and there’s still time to get in on the excitement. Participation in the League is free and open to anyone in one of our after-school chess clubs.
The competition is tightening up halfway through the regular season in the Metro Area Chess League. In a meeting between two of the frontrunners this past Tuesday, the team from Richard Montgomery edged a close contest with Churchill to move into sole first place as the only school to have won all four of their matches so far after the other co-leader, Montgomery Blair, drew their match with Langley. We are still waiting for a handful of matches to be completed, and the overall standings will be updated once those results come in.
Round 4 Results
Richard Montgomery High School 2.5-1.5 Winston Churchill High School
Langley High School 2-2 Montgomery Blair High School
McLean High School 1-3 Arlington Career Center
West Springfield High School 4-0 DeMatha Catholic High School
BASIS DC 2-2 Sidwell Friends School
Rockville High School 2-2 Rochambeau French Intl. School
St. Anselm’s Abbey School 3-1 Eastern High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School 0-4 St. John’s College High School
Washington Intl. School 4-0 McKinley Technology High School
Georgetown Preparatory School 0-4 Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Falls Church High School 0-4 Centreville High School
Seneca Valley High School 0-3 Don Bosco Cristo Rey
St. Albans School 0-4 Gonzaga College High School
Bishop McNamara High School 0-4 W.T. Woodson High School
Sandy Spring Friends School 4-0 IDEA Public Charter School
Standings After Round 4
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st
Richard Montgomery High School
4
13
2nd
Montgomery Blair High School
3.5
13
3rd
Gonzaga College High School
3
12
4th
Langley High School
3
11.5
5th (Tie)
Seneca Valley High School
3
11
5th (Tie)
Winston Churchill High School
3
11
5th (Tie)
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
3
11
5th (Tie)
Falls Church High School
3
11
9th
Arlington Career Center
3
10
10th (Tie)
Rockville High School
2.5
10
10th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
2.5
10
12th
W.T. Woodson High School
2.5
9
13th (Tie)
McLean High School
2
9
13th (Tie)
Washington International School
2
9
15th
Rochambeau, the French International School “
2
8.5
16th
St. Anselm’s Abbey School
2
8
17th
Centreville High School
2
7.5
18th
Sidwell Friends School
1.5
8
19th
St. John’s College High School
1.5
7.5
20th
BASIS DC
1.5
6.5
21st
Don Bosco Cristo Rey
1.5
6
22nd
St. Albans School
1.5
5.5
23rd (Tie)
DeMatha Catholic High School
1
5
23rd (Tie)
Georgetown Preparatory School
1
5
23rd (Tie)
Sandy Spring Friends School
1
5
23rd (Tie)
Eastern High School
1
5
27th
Bishop McNamara High School
1
4
28th
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
0.5
3
29th
McKinley Technology High School
0
1
30th
IDEA Public Charter School
0
0
Round 5 Pairings
Montgomery Blair High School – Richard Montgomery High School
Arlington Career Center – Seneca Valley High School
Winston Churchill High School – Langley High School
Gonzaga College High School – Falls Church High School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School – West Springfield High School
W.T. Woodson High School – Rochambeau French Intl. School
St. John’s College High School – McLean High School
DeMatha Catholic High School – St. Anselm’s Abbey School
Sidwell Friends School – Rockville High School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey – Washington Intl. School
Centreville High School – St. Albans School
BASIS DC – Georgetown Preparatory School
Eastern High School – Bishop McNamara High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School – Sandy Spring Friends School
IDEA Public Charter School – McKinley Technology High School
Round 4 of the Elementary Team League was played earlier today. Spring Hill Elementary moved into first place with a 30-point day, scoring six wins and two draws from their eight games, one of many shakeups in the standings as the season hit the halfway mark.
Round 7 Results
Westbriar 1-3 Spring Hill
Kent Gardens 1-3 Colvin Run
Churchill Road 4-0 Greenbriar West
Orange Hunt 0.5-3.5 White Oaks
Ravensworth 0-4 Lorton Station
Willow Springs 3-1 Poplar Tree
Round 8 Results
Colvin Run 3-1 Willow Springs
Greenbriar West 1-3 Kent Gardens
Spring Hill 4-0 Ravensworth
White Oaks 0.5-3.5 Westbriar
Poplar Tree 3.5-0.5 Orange Hunt
Lorton Station 3-1 Churchill Road
Team Standings After Matchday 4
Spring Hill 97
Churchill Road 95
Colvin Run 90
Kent Gardens 83
Willow Springs 82
White Oaks 78
Westbriar 75
Poplar Tree 73
Greenbriar West 72
Lorton Station 71
Orange Hunt 50
Ravensworth 35
The season continues on February 4, followed by three more matchdays in February and March. Participation in the League is free of charge and open to anyone in an after-school chess club of ours.
The Metro Area Chess League reconvened on lichess yesterday night for its third match of the season, and its first of the calendar year. This round was the most exciting of the season so far, with competitive games all throughout the field (a few of which we’ll post shortly).
With all the results in, Montgomery Blair, Richard Mongomery and Churchill are the only three schools to have won all of their matches thus far, with Blair ahead on the board points tiebreaker. Round 4 will be two weeks from now, the evening of January 24.
Round 3 Results
Montgomery Blair High School 3-1 Gonzaga College High School
Rochambeau French Intl. School 1.5-2.5 Richard Montgomery High School
Winston Churchill High School 2.5-1.5 McLean High School
St. Albans School 0.5-3.5 Langley High School
Arlington Career Center 3-1 West Springfield High School
Centreville High School 4-0 Bishop McNamara High School
Seneca Valley High School 3-1 Sidwell Friends School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey 3-1 BASIS DC
St. Anselm’s Abbey School 2-2 Rockville High School
DeMatha Catholic High School 2-2 E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School 2-2 Washington Int. School
McKinley Technology High School 0-4 (forfeit) Georgetown Preparatory School
W.T. Woodson High School 2.5-1.5St. John’s College High School
Sandy Spring Friends School 0-3 (forfeit) Eastern High School
IDEA Public Charter School 0-4 (forfeit) Falls Church High School
Standings After Round 3
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st
Montgomery Blair High School
3
11
2nd
Richard Montgomery High School
3
10.5
3rd
Winston Churchill High School
3
9.5
4th
Langley High School
2.5
9.5
5th (Tie)
Gonzaga College High School
2
8
5th (Tie)
McLean High School
2
8
5th (Tie)
Seneca Valley High School
2
8
5th (Tie)
Rockville High School
2
8
9th
Centreville High School
2
7.5
10th (Tie)
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
2
7
10th (Tie)
Arlington Career Center
2
7
10th (Tie)
Falls Church High School
2
7
13th
Rochambeau, the French International School
1.5
6.5
14th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
1.5
6
14th (Tie)
W.T. Woodson High School
1.5
6
14th (Tie)
Don Bosco Cristo Rey
1.5
6
17th
St. Albans School
1.5
5.5
18th
DeMatha Catholic High School
1.5
5
19th
Sidwell Friends School
1
6
20th (Tie)
St. Anselm’s Abbey School
1
5
20th (Tie)
Georgetown Preparatory School
1
5
20th (Tie)
Washington International School
1
5
23rd
BASIS DC
1
4.5
24th (Tie)
Bishop McNamara High School
1
4
24th (Tie)
Eastern High School
1
4
26th
St. John’s College High School
0.5
3.5
27th
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
0.5
3
28th (Tie)
McKinley Technology High School
0
1
28th (Tie)
Sandy Spring Friends School
0
1
30th
IDEA Public Charter School
0
0
Round 4 Pairings
Richard Montgomery High School – Winston Churchill High School
Langley High School – Montgomery Blair High School
McLean High School – Arlington Career Center
Falls Church High School – Centreville High School
Seneca Valley High School – Don Bosco Cristo Rey
St. Albans School – Gonzaga College High School
West Springfield High School – DeMatha Catholic High School
BASIS DC – Sidwell Friends School
Rockville High School – Rochambeau French Intl. School
St. Anselm’s Abbey School – Eastern High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School – St. John’s College High School
Washington Intl. School – McKinley Technology High School
Georgetown Preparatory School – Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Bishop McNamara High School – W.T. Woodson High School
Sandy Spring Friends School – IDEA Public Charter School
Back from the winter break, the Elementary Team League returned to St. Luke’s Methodist Church for the third matchday of the 2022-23 season. Among the more than 40 elementary-schoolers who turned up to play, we were happy to see many students who’d never taken part in competitions outside of their school clubs. Representing their schools in the League is an excellent foundation for these students to build on for other tournaments in the future.
The Metro Area Chess League reconvened on lichess last Tuesday night, December 5. Last year’s top two finishers Montgomery Blair (Silver Spring, MD) and Richard Montgomery (Rockville, MD) have picked up right where they left off, recording 4-0 sweeps in both of their first two matches to lead the field early on. Gonzaga College High School of northwest Washington, Winston Churchill High School of Potomac, MD and McLean High School of McLean, VA have also won both of their first two matches.
Round 2 Results
Arlington Career Center 0-4 Montgomery Blair High School
Richard Montgomery High School 4-0 Georgetown Preparatory School
Gonzaga College High School 3-1 Washington Int. School
Rochambeau French Intl. School 2-2 Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Winston Churchill High School 3-1 Centreville High School
McLean High School 2.5 – 1.5 W.T. Woodson High School
Eastern High School School 1-3 St. Albans School
Bishop McNamara High School 1-3 DeMatha Catholic High School
West Springfield High School 3-1 Seneca Valley High School
Falls Church High School 3-1 Don Bosco Cristo Rey
Rockville High School 4-0 IDEA Public Charter School (forfeit)
St. John’s College High School 2-2 St. Anselm’s Abbey School
BASIS DC 3-1 E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
Sidwell Friends School 4-0 McKinley Technology High School
Standings After Round 2
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st (Tie)
Montgomery Blair High School
2
8
1st (Tie)
Richard Montgomery High School
2
8
3rd (Tie)
Gonzaga College High School
2
7
3rd (Tie)
Winston Churchill High School
2
7
5th
McLean High School
2
6.5
6th (Tie)
Langley High School
1.5
6
6th (Tie)
Rockville High School
1.5
6
8th (Tie)
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
1.5
5
8th (Tie)
Rochambeau, the French International School
1.5
5
8th (Tie)
St. Albans School
1.5
5
8th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
1.5
5
12th (Tie)
Seneca Valley High School
1
5
12th (Tie)
Sidwell Friends School
1
5
14th (Tie)
Arlington Career Center
1
4
14th (Tie)
Bishop McNamara High School
1
4
16th (Tie)
BASIS DC
1
3.5
16th (Tie)
Centreville High School
1
3.5
18th (Tie)
DeMatha Catholic High School
1
3
18th (Tie)
Falls Church High School
1
3
20th (Tie)
W.T. Woodson High School
0.5
3.5
21st (Tie)
Don Bosco Cristo Rey
0.5
3
21st (Tie)
Washington International School
0.5
3
21st (Tie)
St. Anselm’s Abbey School
0.5
3
24th (Tie)
St. John’s College High School
0.5
2
25th (Tie)
Eastern High School
0
1
25th (Tie)
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
0
1
25th (Tie)
Georgetown Preparatory School
0
1
25th (Tie)
McKinley Technology High School
0
1
25th (Tie)
Sandy Spring Friends School
0
1
30th
IDEA Public Charter School
0
0
Round 3 Pairings
Montgomery Blair High School – Gonzaga College High School
Rochambeau French Intl. School – Richard Montgomery High School
Winston Churchill High School – McLean High School
St. Albans School – Langley High School
Arlington Career Center – West Springfield High School
Centreville High School – Bishop McNamara High School
Seneca Valley High School – Sidwell Friends School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey – BASIS DC
St. Anselm’s Abbey School – Rockville High Schoo
DeMatha Catholic High School – E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School – Washington Int. School
McKinley Technology High School – Georgetown Preparatory School
W.T. Woodson High School – St. John’s College High School
Sandy Spring Friends School – Eastern High School
IDEA Public Charter School – Falls Church High School
Spring Hill Elementary played host to the second matchday of the Elementary Team League yesterday, December 3. Over 40 students turned up to represent their schools.
Round 3 Results
Westbriar 3-1 Poplar Tree
White Oaks 0-4 Churchill Road
Kent Gardens 1-3 Spring Hill
Colvin Run 2-2 Willow Springs
Ravensworth 0-4 Greenbriar West
Orange Hunt 3-1 Lorton Station
Round 4 Results
Spring Hill 3-1 Orange Hunt
Poplar Tree 2-2 Colvin Run
Greenbriar West 3.5 – 0.5 White Oaks
Lorton Station 1.5-2.5 Westbriar
Churchill Road 4-0 Kent Gardens
Willow Springs 3-0 Ravensworth
Team Standings After Matchday 2
Churchill Road 58
Spring Hill 52
Westbriar 47
Greenbriar West 43
Willow Springs 42
Colvin Run 39
Poplar Tree 36
Kent Gardens 35
White Oaks 32
Lorton Station 21
Orange Hunt 20
Ravensworth 17
The League breaks for the holiday season and resumes on January 7, 2023. Participation is free and open to all students enrolled in one of our after-school chess clubs. Please reach out to your chess club instructor if you would like your child to participate in the League this season.
Representatives from 11 school teams came together the Saturday before Thanksgiving for the first round of the new season of the Elementary Team League. As with last year’s competition, St. Luke’s Methodist Church was the venue.
For many of these students, it was their first time representing their school in a competitive chess event. With several major competitions on the horizon, such as the national K-12 grade level championship in a couple of weeks, our number one goal is to help the kids build experience and confidence they need to compete.
Round 1 Results
Westbriar 3-1 Greenbriar West
Poplar Tree 2-2 Churchill Road
Willow Springs 1-3 Spring Hill
Colvin Run 3.5-0.5 Ravensworth
Kent Gardens 2.5-1.5 Mixed Team
White Oaks 3.5-0.5 Mixed Team
Lorton Station 0-4 Mixed Team
Round 2 Results
White Oaks 3-1 Colvin Run
Greenbriar West 1-3 Willow Springs
Lorton Station 0-4 Kent Gardens
Churchill Road 4-0 Mixed Team
Westbriar 1-3 Mixed Team
Ravensworth 1-3 Mixed Team
Team Standings After Matchday 1
Kent Gardens: 27
White Oaks: 27
Churchill Road: 26
Spring Hill: 24
Poplar Tree: 20
Westbriar: 20
Willow Springs: 20
Colvin Run: 19
Greenbriar West: 12
Ravensworth: 11
Lorton Station: 8
Orange Hunt: 0
Our scoring system for the league is constructed to encourage participation. Students who play a game earn 1 point for their school team, with an additional 2 points awarded for a win and 1 point for a draw. Winning a match is worth 4 bonus points for the school, while drawing a match is worth 2 bonus points, so teams can earn a maximum of 16 points per match.
Tuesday evening, November 15, was the start of the 2022-2023 season of the Metro Area Chess League. Following the success of last year’s competition, the MACL has retained the same general format with the games taking place online on lichess.com on Tuesday evenings.
30 schools have signed up to play in the MACL this year, the largest participation rate in more than 30 years. Last year’s top two finishers Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, MD) and Richard Montgomery High School (Rockville, MD) won their Round 1 matches with 4-0 sweeps, as did fourth place finisher Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.). Also sweeping their matches were league newcomers Arlington Career Center (Arlington, VA), McLean High School (McLean, VA) and Seneca Valley High School (Germantown, MD), and the six schools share the early lead. Round 2 will be on December 6.
Round 1 Results
Montgomery Blair High School 4-0 Falls Church High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School 0-4 Richard Montgomery High School
DeMatha Catholic High School 0-4 Gonzaga College High School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School 3-1 Sidwell Friends School
St. Anselm’s Abbey School 1-3 Winston Churchill High School
Arlington Career Center 4-0 St. John’s College High School
Sandy Spring Friends School 1-3 Rochambeau French Intl. School
St. Albans School 2-2 West Springfield High School
McKinley Technology High School 2-2 Bishop McNamara High School
Seneca Valley High School 4-0 Eastern High School
Centreville High School 3-5-0.5 BASIS DC
IDEA Public Charter School 0-4 McLean High School (forfeit)
Don Bosco Cristo Rey 2-2 Rockville High School
Washington Intl. School 2-1 Georgetown Preparatory School
Standings After Round 1
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st (Tie)
Arlington Career Center
1
4
1st (Tie)
Gonzaga College High School
1
4
1st (Tie)
McLean High School
1
4
1st (Tie)
Montgomery Blair High School
1
4
1st (Tie)
Richard Montgomery High School
1
4
1st (Tie)
Seneca Valley High School
1
4
7th
Centreville High School
1
3.5
8th (Tie)
Winston Churchill High School
1
3
8th (Tie)
Rochambeau, the French International School
1
3
8th (Tie)
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
1
3
8th (Tie)
Bishop McNamara High School
1
3
12th (Tie)
Don Bosco Cristo Rey
0.5
2
12th (Tie)
Langley High School
0.5
2
12th (Tie)
Rockville High School
0.5
2
12th (Tie)
St. Albans School
0.5
2
12th (Tie)
Washington International School
0.5
2
12th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
0.5
2
12th (Tie)
W.T. Woodson High School
0.5
2
20th (Tie)
Georgetown Preparatory School
0
1
20th (Tie)
McKinley Technology High School
0
1
20th (Tie)
St. Anselms School
0
1
20th (Tie)
Sandy Spring Friends School
0
1
20th (Tie)
Sidwell Friends School
0
1
24th
BASIS DC
0
0.5
25th (Tie)
DeMatha Catholic High School
0
0
25th (Tie)
Eastern High School
0
0
25th (Tie)
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
0
0
25th (Tie)
Falls Church High School
0
0
25th (Tie)
IDEA Public Charter School
0
0
25th (Tie)
St. John’s College High School
0
0
Round 2 Pairings
Georgetown Preparatory School – Montgomery Blair High School
Richard Montomery High School – Arlington Career Center
McLean High School – W.T. Woodson High School
Gonzaga College High School – Washington Intl. School
West Springfield High School – Seneca Valley High School
Rockville High School – IDEA Public Charter School
St. John’s College High School – St. Anselm’s Abbey School
Bishop McNamara High School – DeMatha Catholic High School
Sidwell Friends School – McKinley Technology High School
Eastern High School – St. Albans School
Langley High School – Sandy Spring Friends School
Rochambeau French Intl. School – Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Winston Churchill High School – Centreville High School
Montgomery Blair’s domination of the Metro Area Chess League continued through the play-offs as they swept to the championship winning all three of their matches. The play-offs were held Saturday, March 26, in the museum of United Therapeutics in Blair’s home turf of downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. The league is grateful to United Therapeutics for providing such a convenient and comfortable location for the play-offs, and for the snacks.
The Montgomery Blair team posing with the winner's trophy.
Richard Montgomery High School of Rockville finished in second place with a 1½ – 1½ score (one win, one draw and one loss), followed by Woodrow Wilson High School of the District of Columbia (1 – 2) and Gonzaga College High School (½ – 2½).
The league included 22 teams this year from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, starting play in November. This is the first time the league was run virtually, but with the success of this year, we will run the league this way again in the 2022-23 school year. Any high school in the metro area may join.
Playoff Results
Round 1
Montgomery Blair High School 3-1 Woodrow Wilson High School
Richard Montgomery High School 2.5-1.5 Gonzaga College High School
Round 2
Richard Montgomery High School 2-2 Woodrow Wilson High School
Gonzaga College High School 0-4 Montgomery Blair High School
Round 3
Woodrow Wilson High School 2-2Gonzaga College High School
Montgomery Blair High School 3-1 Richard Montgomery High School
We have a week of March still ahead of us, but one Final Four has already been set. The Metro Area Chess League concluded its regular season yesterday night with Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, MD), Richard Montgomery High School (Rockville, MD), Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.) and Woodrow Wilson High School (Washington, D.C.) wrapping up the top four places and earning tickets to the playoffs this coming Saturday in Silver Spring.
With 22 high schools from around the Washington area and over 100 students participating throughout the year, this was the largest online season we’ve run, and we’re very pleased to have revived the League after several years’ hiatus. We thank all the students for logging on to participate on Tuesday nights and the school chess club sponsors and coaches for helping make this such a success.
Round 8 Results
Montgomery Blair High School 3-1 Gonzaga College High School
Richard Montgomery High School 4-0 Northwest High School
McLean High School 2-2 Woodrow Wilson High School
Rochambeau French Intl. School 3-1 BASIS DC
West Springfield High School 2-2 Washington International School
South Lakes High School 1.5-2.5 Thomas J. Wootton High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School 2-2 St. Anselm’s Abbey School
St. Albans School 0-4 Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Justice High School 0-4 Georgetown Preparatory School
Rockville High School 4-0 Don Bosco Cristo Rey
James Hubert Blake High School – The SEED Public Charter School
After seven Saturdays of play, the spring 2022 season of the PCSAA Middle School Chess League finished this afternoon. BASIS DC and District of Columbia International School both entered the final day of play with undefeated records, and in their match against one another, either school could have taken the season championship with a victory.
In the final game to finish, the BASIS player had a decisive advantage after: 1. e4 e5 2. d4 Na6 3. dxe5 d6 4. exd6 Bxd6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Bxa6 bxa6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qxd8 Raxd8 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nd5 Bxb2 13. Rab1 Ba3 14. Nxc7 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Rd6 16. Rb3 Bc5 17. Rd3 Rg6+ 18. Kh1 Bd6 19. Nxa6 Rh6 20. h3 Rxh3+ 21. Kg2 Rh6 22. Rfd1 Rd8 23. e5 Rg6+ 24. Kf1 f5 25. Rxd6 Rdxd6 26. Rxd6 Rxd6 27. exd6 Kf7 28. c4 Ke6 29. c5 g5 30. Nc7+ Kd7 31. Kg2 h5 32. Nd5 g4 33. Nf6+ Kc6 34. d7 Kc7 35. fxg4 hxg4 36. Kg3 a5 37. c6 a4 38. Nd5+ Kd8 39. Kf4, but like all resourceful chess players Black stayed astute for a way to save the game.
39… g3 40. fxg3 a3 reached the position shown on the left, and if White captures the f-pawn without thinking, 41. Kxf5?? is stalemate. Instead, White sharply sidestepped Black’s drawing trap with 41. Nf6 and won in twelve more moves. (41. Ke5 would have mated faster, but a win is a win.) BASIS narrowly won the match 4.5-3.5 and took the title.
Howard University Middle School of Mathematics & Science swept their match against E.L. Haynes to retain third place in the season standings, while Meridian held onto fourth place on the board points tiebreaker despite losing to Children’s Guild. One more half-point in their match would have put Children’s Guild ahead.
Round-by-round results and the final standings for the season can be viewed here. We congratulate all of the students who showed up to play on lichess this year and we hope to see more of them in upcoming chess competitions in the DC area.
One round of competition remains in the regular season of the Metro Area Chess League. With six victories from seven matches so far, Montgomery Blair has locked up the number one seed in the playoffs, but the competition is tight for the other three playoff spots.
Round 7 Results
Woodrow Wilson High School 1-3 Montgomery Blair High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School 0-4 Richard Montgomery High School
McLean High School 1-3 Gonzaga College High School
Northwest High School 1-3 Rochambeau French Intl. School
St. Albans School 2-2 Thomas J. Wootton High School
BASIS DC 4-0 South Lakes High School
St. Anselm’s Abbey School 1-3 West Springfield High School
Rockville High School 0-4 Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Georgetown Preparatory School 1-3 Washington International School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey 1-1 James Hubert Blake High School
The SEED Public Charter School 1.5-2.5 Justice High School
Standings After Round 7
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st
Montgomery Blair High School
6.5
24
2nd
Gonzaga College High School
5.5
19.5
3rd
Woodrow Wilson High School
5
16.5
4th
Richard Montgomery High School
4.5
18
5th
McLean High School
4.5
17
6th
BASIS DC
4.5
15.5
7th
Rochambeau, the French International School
4.5
14.5
8th
Northwest High School
4
16
9th
West Springfield High School
4
15
10th
Washington International School
3.5
14.5
11th (Tie)
Georgetown Preparatory School
3.5
14
11th (Tie)
Thomas S. Wootton High School
3.5
14
13th
South Lakes High School
3.5
13
14th (Tie)
Justice High School
3
13
14th (Tie)
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
3
13
14th (Tie)
St. Anselm's Abbey School
3
13
17th
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
3
12
18th
St. Albans School
3
11.5
19th
Rockville High School
2
8
20th
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
1
8
21st
James Hubert Blake High School
1
7
22nd
The SEED Public Charter School
0
3
Round 7 Highlights
St. Albans - Wootton Board 1
Northwest - Rochambeau Board 3
Wilson - Montgomery Blair Board 1
Round 8 Pairings
Round 8 will be held on March 22, 2022 at 7:15pm ET (7:30 games start) with matches played on https://lichess.org.
Montgomery Blair High School – Gonzaga College High School
Richard Montgomery High School – Northwest High School
McLean High School – Woodrow Wilson High School
Rochambeau French Intl. School – BASIS DC
West Springfield High School – Washington International School
Thomas J. Wootton High School – South Lakes High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School – St. Anselm’s Abbey School
St. Albans School – Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Justice High School – Georgetown Preparatory School
Rockville High School – Don Bosco Cristo Rey
James Hubert Blake High School – The SEED Public Charter School
It’s been a great season of competition in the Elementary Team League this year. Congratulations to Colvin Run Elementary (Vienna, VA), who took the lead at the halfway point of the season and never looked back, clinching the league championship with a match to spare. White Oaks Elementary came out on top of a battle for second, with Spring Hill edging Greenbriar West for third.
Saturday, March 6 was the final day of matches for the season, and again we had a near-perfect turnout as nearly 40 students turned up to compete for their schools.
Round 1:
Greenbriar West 2-2 Stratford Landing
Colvin Run 2-2 Ravensworth
Westbriar 3-1 Kent Gardens
White Oaks 2-2 Spring Hill
Poplar Tree 4-0 Willow Springs
Round 2:
Spring Hill 3-1 Westbriar
Willow Springs 1.5-2.5 Colvin Run
Greenbriar West 2-2 Poplar Tree
Ravensworth 1-3 White Oaks
Kent Gardens 0-4 Stratford Landing
Final Standings after Matchday 8:
Colvin Run 204
White Oaks 177
Spring Hill 168
Greenbriar West 163
Kent Gardens 144
Poplar Tree 142
Ravensworth 121
Stratford Landing 111
Willow Springs 104
Westbriar 77
One final thank-you to St. Luke’s Methodist Church for providing the venue for us to return to in-person competition this year, after we were online last season. Win or lose, playing in the league has provided valuable experience for everyone this year, especially those who are taking part in the state and national championships later this spring.
Since many of the D.C. schools were on spring break, Round 6 was played over two weeks, with some matches taking place on February 22 and some on March 1. Montgomery Blair (Silver Spring) continues to lead the field with 5.5 match points out of 6, with Woodrow Wilson (Washington, D.C.) still half a point behind in second and a wide-open race for the playoffs in prospect.
Round 6 Results
February 22
Montgomery Blair High School 3-1 Thomas J. Wootton High School
McLean High School 3-1 Richard Montgomery High School
West Springfield High School School 1-3 Northwest High School
Gonzaga College High School 4-0 St. Anselm’s Abbey School
South Lakes High School 3-1 Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Georgetown Preparatory School 4-0 James Hubert Blake High School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey 1-3 Justice High School
March 1
Rochambeau French Intl. School 3-1 St. Albans School
Woodrow Wilson High School 2.5-1.5 BASIS DC
The SEED Public Charter School 0-4 E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
Rockville High School 0-4 Washington International School
Standings After Round 6
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st
Montgomery Blair High School
5.5
21
2nd
Woodrow Wilson High School
5
15.5
3rd
Gonzaga College High School
4.5
16.5
4th
McLean High School
4.5
16
5th
Northwest High School
4
15
6th
Richard Montgomery High School
3.5
14
7th (Tie)
Georgetown Preparatory School
3.5
13
7th (Tie)
South Lakes High School
3.5
13
9th (Tie)
BASIS DC
3.5
11.5
9th (Tie)
Rochambeau, the French International School
3.5
11.5
11th (Tie)
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
3
12
11th (Tie)
St. Anselm's Abbey School
3
12
11th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
3
12
11th (Tie)
Thomas S. Wootton High School
3
12
15th
Washington International School
2.5
11.5
16th
St. Albans School
2.5
9.5
17th
Justice High School
2
10.5
18th
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
2
9
19th
Rockville High School
2
8
20th
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
1
7
21st
James Hubert Blake High School
1
6
22nd
The SEED Public Charter School
0
1.5
Round 7 Pairings
Round 7 will be held on March 8, 2022 at 7:15pm ET (7:30 games start) with matches played on https://lichess.org.
Woodrow Wilson High School – Montgomery Blair High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School – Richard Montgomery High School
McLean High School – Gonzaga College High School
Northwest High School – Rochambeau French Intl. School
St. Albans School – Thomas J. Wootton High School
BASIS DC – South Lakes High School
St. Anselm’s Abbey School – West Springfield High School
Rockville High School – Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Georgetown Preparatory School – Washington International School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey – James Hubert Blake High School
The SEED Public Charter School – Justice High School
More than 30 students showed up to St. Luke’s Methodist Church this past weekend to represent their schools in the Elementary Team League. With one round remaining in the competiton, Colvin Run Elementary continues in the lead while White Oaks, Greenbriar West and the fast-rising Spring Hill are locked in a battle for second.
Another exciting evening of high school league play this evening produced a lot of back-and-forth games. Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, MD) is now back in the sole lead with a 4-0 victory over BASIS DC, their fourth clean sweep in five matches. Woodrow Wilson High School (Washington DC) is in clear second place after their match with Richard Montgomery ended in a 2-2 draw.
Round 5 Results
BASIS DC 0-4 Montgomery Blair High School
Richard Montgomery High School 2-2 Woodrow Wilson High School
St. Anselm’s Abbey School 1-3 McLean High School
Gonzaga College High School 3-1 South Lakes High School
Thomas J. Wootton High School 2-2 Rochambeau French Intl. School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School 3-1 West Springfield High School
Northwest High School 3-1 Rockville High School
St. Albans School 2.5-1.5 Georgetown Preparatory School
James Hubert Blake High School 1-3 E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
Washington International School 3-1 Justice High School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey ppd. The SEED Public Charter School
Standings After Round 5
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st
Montgomery Blair High School
4.5
18
2nd
Woodrow Wilson High School
4
13
3rd (Tie)
McLean High School
3.5
13
3rd (Tie)
Richard Montgomery High School
3.5
13
5th
Gonzaga College High School
3.5
12.5
6th
BASIS DC
3.5
10
7th (Tie)
Northwest High School
3
12
7th (Tie)
St. Anselm's Abbey School
3
12
9th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
3
11
9th (Tie)
Thomas S. Wootton High School
3
11
11th
South Lakes High School
2.5
10
12th
Georgetown Preparatory School
2.5
9
13th (Tie)
Rochambeau, the French International School
2.5
8.5
13th (Tie)
St. Albans School
2.5
8.5
15th (Tie)
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
2
8
15th (Tie)
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
2
8
15th (Tie)
Rockville High School
2
8
18th
Washington International School
1.5
7.5
19th
Justice High School
1
7.5
20th
James Hubert Blake High School
1
6
21st
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
0
2
22nd
The SEED Public Charter School
0
1.5
One match, Don Bosco Cristo Rey vs. SEED Public Charter School, was postponed. We will update the standings and post Round 6 pairings when that match has been completed.
Round 5 Highlights
Wooton-Rochambeau Board 3
Gonzaga-South Lakes Board 1
Gonzaga-South Lakes Board 4
Round 6 Pairings
February 22
Montgomery Blair High School – Thomas J. Wootton High School
McLean High School – Richard Montgomery High School
West Springfield High School School – Northwest High School
Gonzaga College High School – St. Anselm’s Abbey School
South Lakes High School – Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Georgetown Preparatory School – James Hubert Blake High School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey – Justice High School
Rockville High School – Washington International School
March 1
Rochambeau French Intl. School – St. Albans School
Woodrow Wilson High School – BASIS DC
The SEED Public Charter School – E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
With yesterday’s wind and below freezing temperatures in Northern Virginia, it was another day of great “chess weather.” The Elementary Team League returned to its usual playing site at St. Luke’s Methodist Church and we had a near-perfect turnout of ten school teams. Leaders Colvin Run Elementary continued their good form, scoring big wins against the schools that started the day in second and third place in the standings, Kent Gardens and White Oaks.
Round 1:
Greenbriar West 2-2 Willow Springs
Ravensworth 0-4 Spring Hill
Stratford Landing 3-1 Westbriar
Colvin Run 4-0 Kent Gardens
Poplar Tree 2-2 White Oaks
Round 2:
Kent Gardens 1.5-1.5 Greenbriar West
Willow Springs 1-3 Stratford Landing
Spring Hill 3-1 Poplar Tree
White Oaks 0.5-3.5 Colvin Run
Westbriar 2-2 Ravensworth
Standings after Matchday 6:
Colvin Run 161
White Oaks 124
Greenbriar West 123
Kent Gardens 122
Spring Hill 114
Poplar Tree 110
Willow Springs 85
Ravensworth 76
Stratford Landing 73
Westbriar 51
Two match days remain for this season: February 19 and March 5. Playing in the League is free and open to anyone enrolled in an after-school chess club of ours so if your child is interested, please reach out to their club instructor.
The DC Public Charter School Athletic Association’s Middle School Chess League is now back in action for the spring 2022 season. District of Columbia International School (DCI) returns to attempt to defend their title from last year. Also coming back from the prior season are BASIS DC, The Children’s Guild, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, Howard University Middle School of Mathematics & Science, and Meridian Public Charter School.
Current League Standings
School
Match Points
Board Points (Tiebreaker)
BASIS DC
6.5
44
District of Columbia International School
5
40
Howard University Middle School of Mathematics & Sciences
4
29.5
Meridian Public Charter School
2
18
The Children's Guild
2
17.5
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
1
11
Matches are played on Saturdays on lichess.org, and there are 7 matchdays in total scheduled for this season. Those interested can keep track of the results and standings here.
January 25 marked the fourth match of the Metro Area Chess League season. Leaders Montgomery Blair High School – the only team with a perfect score through the first three rounds – faced Richard Montgomery and were held to their first drawn match, as each team won two games from their four boards. Woodrow Wilson High School and BASIS DC both won their Round 4 matches to join them on 3.5 match points, although Montgomery Blair still holds the board points tiebreaker.
Round 4 Results
Montgomery Blair High School 2 – 2 Richard Montgomery High School Wilson High School 2.5 – 1.5 Gonzaga College High School EL Haynes Public Charter School 1 – 3 BASIS DC Washington International School 1 – 3 St. Anselms Abbey School McLean High School 2 – 2 Rochambeau French Intl. School Georgetown Preparatory School 1 – 3 Thomas J. Wootton High School James Hubert Blake High School 1 – 3 Rockville High School Justice High School 1.5 – 2.5 Col. Zadok Magruder High School West Springfield High School 2 – 2 South Lakes High School Don Bosco Cristo Rey 0 – 4 Northwest High School The SEED Public Charter School 0 – 4 St. Albans School
Standings After Round 4
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st
Montgomery Blair High School
3.5
14
2nd
Woodrow Wilson High School
3.5
11
3rd
BASIS DC
3.5
10
4th (Tie)
Richard Montgomery High School
3
11
4th (Tie)
St. Anselm's Abbey School
3
11
6th
McLean High School
2.5
10
7th
Gonzaga College High School
2.5
9.5
8th (Tie)
South Lakes High School
2.5
9
8th (Tie)
Thomas S. Wootton High School
2.5
9
10th
Georgetown Preparatory School
2.5
7.5
11th
Northwest High School
2
9
12th
West Springfield High School
2
8
13th (Tie)
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
2
7
13th (Tie)
Rockville High School
2
7
15th
Rochambeau, the French International School
2
6.5
16th
St. Albans School
1.5
6
17th
Justice High School
1
6.5
18th (Tie)
James Hubert Blake High School
1
5
18th (Tie)
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
1
5
20th
Washington International School
0.5
4.5
21st
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
0
2
22nd
The SEED Public Charter School
0
1.5
Round 4 Highlights
This is the game from board 1 of the Richard Montgomery – Montgomery Blair match, after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Be4 6. f3 Bh7 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 e6 9. h5 c5 10. c3 Nc6 11. Ne2 Qb6 12. f4 Rc8 13. Nd2 cxd4 14. cxd4 Nb4 15. Qb1 Nc2+ 16. Kf2 Ne7 17. Nf3 Nxa1 18. Qxa1 Nc6 19. a3 Na5 20. Qb1 Bxa3 21. g5 Be7 22. f5 exf5 23. Qxf5 Qe6 24. Qd3 Nc4 25. Nf4 Qd7. Up to the previous move, Black had defended well against White’s attacks, but with the last move, White has the chance to gain an advantage.
Board 1 in the McLean-Rochambeau match began: 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 Be7 7. Bxc4 h6 8. Bh4 cxd4 9. Qxd4 Nc6 10. Qxd8+ Bxd8 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfd1 a6 13. Rac1 b5 14. Bb3 Bb7 15. e5 Ng4 16. Bg3 b4 17. Na4 h5 18. Nc5 Bc8 giving rise to the position on the right. Can you spot an idea for White to gain an advantage?
19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Rxc6 and White will be two pawns ahead.
Yesterday, January 22, was the fifth matchday of this season’s Elementary Team League. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church again played host. With two straight 4-0 victories, Colvin Run Elementary (Vienna, VA) extended their lead at the top of the season standings.
Round 1:
White Oaks 1-3 Greenbriar West
Willow Springs 2.5-1.5 Stratford Landing
Westbriar 0-4 Colvin Run
Spring Hill 2-2 Kent Gardens
Poplar Tree 1.5-1.5 Ravensworth
Round 2:
Kent Gardens 2-2 Willow Springs
Colvin Run 4-0 Poplar Tree
Greenbriar West 1-3 Spring Hill
Stratford Landing 1.5-2.5 White Oaks
Ravensworth 2.5-0.5 Westbriar
Standings after Matchday 4:
Colvin Run 130
Kent Gardens 113
White Oaks 109
Greenbriar West 107
Poplar Tree 94
Spring Hill 84
Willow Springs 69
Ravensworth 64
Stratford Landing 47
Westbriar 39
If your child is enrolled in an after school chess club of ours and would like to sign up to play in the Elementary Team League, contact their club instructor. Our next scheduled match day is Saturday, February 5.
Following our winter break, the Metro Area Chess League resumed on lichess yesterday evening. Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, MD) is now in the solo lead after its third consecutive clean sweep of all four boards.
Round 3 Results
Rockville High School 0-4 Montgomery Blair High School
South Lakes High School 1-3 McLean High School
BASIS DC 2.5-1.5 Georgetown Preparatory School
Thomas S. Wootton High School 1-3 Gonzaga College High School
Rochambeau, the French International School 2.5-1.5 Washington International School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School 0.5-3.5 Woodrow Wilson High School
James Hubert Blake High School 0-4 St. Anselm’s Abbey School
St. Albans School 0-4 West Springfield High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School 3-1 Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
Northwest High School 4-0 The SEED Public Charter School
Richard Montgomery High School 4-0 Justice High School
Standings After Round 3
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st
Montgomery Blair High School
3
12
2nd
Richard Montgomery High School
2.5
9
3rd
Woodrow Wilson High School
2.5
8.5
4th
BASIS DC
2.5
7
5th (Tie)
McLean High School
2
8
5th (Tie)
St. Anselm's Abbey School
2
8
7th
South Lakes High School
2
7
8th
Georgetown Preparatory School
1.5
7.5
9th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
1.5
6
9th (Tie)
Thomas S. Wootton High School
1.5
6
11th
Gonzaga College High School
1.5
5
12th
Rochambeau, the French International School
1.5
4.5
13th
Justice High School
1
6
14th
Northwest High School
1
5
15th
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
1
4.5
16th (Tie)
James Hubert Blake High School
1
4
16th (Tie)
Rockville High School
1
4
16th (Tie)
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
1
4
19th (Tie)
Washington International School
0.5
3.5
19th (Tie)
St. Albans School
0.5
2
21st
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
0
2
22nd
The SEED Public Charter School
0
1.5
Round 4 Pairings
Round 4 will be held on January 25, 2022 at 7:15pm ET (7:30 games start) with matches played on https://lichess.org.
Montgomery Blair High School – Richard Montgomery High School Wilson High School – Gonzaga College High School EL Haynes Public Charter School – BASIS DC Washington International School – St. Anselms Abbey School McLean High School – Rochambeau French Intl. School Georgetown Preparatory School – Thomas J. Wootton High School James Hubert Blake High School – Rockville High School Justice High School – Col. Zadok Magruder High School West Springfield High School – South Lakes High School Don Bosco Cristo Rey – Northwest High School The SEED Public Charter School – St. Albans School
Ten school teams braved the frigid winter weather yesterday to come out for the fourth match day of this season’s Elementary Team League at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. With the season half finished, we have a new leader in the overall standings, as Colvin Run Elementary (Vienna, VA) won both of their matches to overtake Kent Gardens.
Round 1:
Ravensworth 2.5-1.5 Kent Gardens
White Oaks 3-0 Westbriar
Greenbriar West 1-3 Colvin Run
Spring Hill 2-1 Willow Springs
Poplar Tree 2.5-1.5 Stratford Landing
Round 2:
Kent Gardens 2.5-1.5 Poplar Tree
Colvin Run 2.5-1.5 Ravensworth
Stratford Landing 2-2 Spring Hill
Willow Springs 3-1 White Oaks
Westbriar 0-4 Greenbriar West
Standings after Matchday 4:
Colvin Run 98
Kent Gardens 93
White Oaks 90
Greenbriar West 87
Poplar Tree 87
Spring Hill 60
Ravensworth 46
Willow Springs 46
Westbriar 34
Stratford Landing 33
Any student enrolled in an after school chess club of ours can sign up to play in the League. Participating is a great opportunity to practice and gain experience for important tournaments like the state and national championships this spring. If your child is interested in taking part, contact their club instructor. Saturday, January 22 is the next scheduled match day.
Nearly 40 students from ten schools showed up for this past Saturday’s Elementary Team League competition. Last Saturday was the third matchday of the eight scheduled for the season. Once again, we thank St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for providing the venue and tables.
We enter the holiday break with Kent Gardens Elementary still leading the overall standings. The remaining matchdays are January 8, January 22, February 5, February 19 and March 5.
Results from Matchday 3 (of 8)
Round 1:
Poplar Tree 4-0 Willow Springs
Colvin Run 3-1 Spring Hill
Westbriar 0-4 Kent Gardens
White Oaks 4-0 Ravensworth
Greenbriar West 4-0 Stratford Landing
Round 2:
Kent Gardens 2-2 White Oaks
Stratford Landing 0-4 Colvin Run
Willow Springs 1.5 -1.5 Westbriar
Spring Hill 1-3 Poplar Tree
Ravensworth 2-2 Greenbriar West
Standings after Matchday 3:
Kent Gardens 76
Colvin Run 71
White Oaks 69
Greenbriar West 65
Poplar Tree 64
Spring Hill 42
Westbriar 32 Ravensworth 26
Willow Springs 22
Stratford Landing 16
Playing in the League is free and open to every student enrolled in one of our after school chess clubs. We especially encourage students who’ve never played tournament chess outside of their school to reach out to their club instructor and sign up to play.
Tuesday evening was Round 2 of the Metro Area Chess League. Students from 22 high school teams from the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Maryland showed up on lichess to compete.
In a closely matched field, Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, MD) and South Lakes High School (Reston, VA) are the only schools to win both of their matches so far and sit atop the standings with 2 match points each. Last night Montgomery Blair swept all four boards for the second round in a row and so holds the board points tiebreaker with 8 points out of a possible 8, with South Lakes in second with 6. Just behind them, Georgetown Preparatory School (North Bethesda, MD) leads a group of six schools tied with 1.5 match points.
Round 2 Results & League Standings
Place
School
Round 2 Board Points
Round 2 Match Points
Total Board Points
Total Match Points
1st
Montgomery Blair High School
4
1
8
2
2nd
South Lakes High School
3
1
6
2
3rd
Georgetown Preparatory School
4
1
6
1.5
4th (Tie)
Gonzaga College High School
2
.5
5
1.5
4th (Tie)
Thomas S. Wootton High School
2
.5
5
1.5
4th (Tie)
Richard Montgomery High School
3
1
5
1.5
4th (Tie)
Woodrow Wilson High School
3
1
5
1.5
8th
BASIS DC
2.5
1
4.5
1.5
9th (Tie)
Justice High School
1
0
5
1
9th (Tie)
McLean High School
4
1
5
1
11th (Tie)
James Hubert Blake High School
1
0
4
1
11th (Tie)
Rockville High School
2
.5
4
1
11th (Tie)
St. Anselm's Abbey School
2
.5
4
1
11th (Tie)
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
3
1
4
1
15th (Tie)
Rochambeau, the French International School
0
0
2
.5
15th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
0
0
2
.5
15th (Tie)
St. Albans School
2
.5
2
.5
15th (Tie)
Washington International School
2
.5
2
.5
19th
The SEED Public Charter School
1.5
0
1.5
0
20th (Tie)
Northwest High School
0
0
1
0
20th (Tie)
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
1
0
1
0
20th (Tie)
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
1
0
1
0
Teams are ranked by Match Points, then by Board Points.
Round 2 Highlights
Board 1: Justice vs. South Lakes Board 1: Richard Montgomery vs. Blake Board 1: SEED vs. BASIS DC
Round 3 Pairings
Round 3 will be held on January 11, 2022 at 7:15pm ET (7:30 games start)
with matches played on https://lichess.org.
Rockville High School vs. Montgomery Blair High School
South Lakes High School vs. McLean High School
BASIS DC vs. Georgetown Preparatory School
Richard Montgomery High School vs. Justice High School
Thomas S. Wootton High School vs. Gonzaga College High School
Rochambeau, the French International School vs. Washington International School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School vs. Woodrow Wilson High School
James Hubert Blake High School vs. St. Anselm’s Abbey School
St. Albans School vs. West Springfield High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School vs. Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
Northwest High School vs. The SEED Public Charter School
On December 4, ten school teams showed up at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church to compete in the second Saturday of matches for this season’s Elementary Team League. Early leaders Kent Gardens continued their strong run by winning their first match of the day, before Greenbriar West edged them in the second match giving the rest of the field the chance to catch up a little.
Results from Matchday 2 (of 8)
Round 1:
Westbriar 2-2 Poplar Tree
Greenbriar West 2-2 Spring Hill
Stratford Landing 1-3 Kent Gardens
White Oaks 1.5-2.5 Colvin Run
Willow Springs 2-1 Ravensworth
Round 2:
Kent Gardens 1.5-2.5 Greenbriar West
Colvin Run 4-0 Willow Springs
Poplar Tree 1-3 White Oaks
Spring Hill 1.5-2.5 Westbriar
Ravensworth 2-1 Stratford Landing
Standings after Matchday 2:
Kent Gardens 50
White Oaks 43
Colvin Run 41
Greenbriar West 39
Poplar Tree 34
Spring Hill 32
Westbriar 23 Ravensworth 14
Willow Springs 13
Stratford Landing 8
Our scoring system is weighted to reward those schools that show up with a full team, since the main goal, as always, is improving the students’ skills.
The remaining Saturday league days this season are December 18, January 8, January 22, February 5, February 19 and March 5. Participation is free and available to all students enrolled in one of our in-person after school chess clubs. Please reach out to your chess instructor if your child would like to play for their school on a future Saturday.
The Elementary Team League has returned to in-person match play after being run online last year. This past Saturday, November 20, saw the first two rounds of the 2021-22 season. Our thanks go out to St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Falls Church, VA, for providing the venue and tables. Kent Gardens Elementary (McLean, VA) was the only school to win both of their first two matches and took the early lead.
Since the League began over 20 years ago, thousands of elementary schoolchildren have taken part. Participating provides the students with tournament chess experience and builds the confidence that helps them represent their schools in competitions like the state and national championships.
Results from Matchday 1 (of 8)
Round 1:
Poplar Tree 3-1 Colvin Run
Spring Hill 0.5-3.5 Kent Gardens
White Oaks 3-1 Greenbriar West
Round 2:
White Oaks 2-2 Spring Hill
Kent Gardens 3-1 Colvin Run
Poplar Tree 2-2 GBW
Standings after Matchday 1:
Kent Gardens 29
Poplar Tree 22
White Oaks 22
Greenbriar West 16
Spring Hill 15
Colvin Run 12
Our scoring system incentivizes showing up with a full team. As always, the more the students show up ready to play and do their best, the faster they improve.
The remaining Saturday match days this season are December 4, December 18, January 8, January 22, February 5, February 19 and March 5. Participation is free and open to all students enrolled in one of our in-person after school chess clubs. If your child would like to take part on a future Saturday, please reach out to their chess club instructor.
The U.S. Chess Center is pleased to bring back the Metro Area Chess League (MACL), the high school chess league we ran from 1985 through 2012. A previous incarnation of the league ran from 1950 through 1975.
The 2021-2022 season began last night with Round 1 and will continue over the next few months, concluding with play-offs at the end of March 2022. We have 20 teams competing.
Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, MD and Justice High School in Falls Church, VA won their matches and led the round with four board victories each—a clean sweep—tying them for first place.
James Hubert Blake High School (Silver Spring, MD), Gonzaga College High School (Washington, DC), and Thomas S. Wootton High School (Rockville, MD) also won their matches last night, but scored three board wins each and are tied for third place.
11/24 update: South Lakes High School (Reston, VA) won 3-0 in their postponed match against SEED Public Charter School (Washington, DC), joining the third place tie.
Good luck to all the teams! Full results and Round 2 pairings below…
Round 1 Results
Place
School
Match Points
Board Points
1st (Tie)
Justice High School
1
4
1st (Tie)
Montgomery Blair High School
1
4
3rd (Tie)
Gonzaga College High School
1
3
3rd (Tie)
James Hubert Blake High School
1
3
3rd (Tie)
South Lakes High School
1
3
3rd (Tie)
Thomas S. Wootton High School
1
3
7th (Tie)
BASIS DC
.5
2
7th (Tie)
Georgetown Preparatory School
.5
2
7th (Tie)
Richard Montgomery High School
.5
2
7th (Tie)
Rochambeau, the French International School
.5
2
7th (Tie)
Rockville High School
.5
2
7th (Tie)
St. Anselm's Abbey School
.5
2
7th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
.5
2
7th (Tie)
Woodrow Wilson High School
.5
2
16th (Tie)
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
0
1
16th (Tie)
McLean High School
0
1
16th (Tie)
Northwest High School
0
1
18th (Tie)
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
0
0
18th (Tie)
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
0
0
18th (Tie)
The SEED Public Charter School
0
0
N/A
St. Albans School
N/A
N/A
N/A
Washington International School
N/A
N/A
A few games from Round 1
First board, Wootton vs. McLean
First board, Richard Montgomery vs. Georgetown Prep
First board, Rochambeau vs. Wilson
Round 2 Pairings
Round 2 will be held on December 14, 2021 at 7:15pm ET (7:30 games start) with matches played on https://lichess.org.
Rockville High School vs. Thomas S. Wootton High School Washington International School vs. St. Albans School Woodrow Wilson High School vs. E.L. Haynes Public Charter School James Hubert Blake High School vs. Richard Montgomery High School Georgetown Preparatory School vs. Rochambeau, the French International School Justice High School vs. South Lakes High School West Springfield High School vs. Montgomery Blair High School Gonzaga College High School vs. St. Anselm’s Abbey School The SEED Public Charter School vs. BASIS DC Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School vs. Col. Zadok Magruder High School McLean High School vs. Northwest High School
Upcoming Schedule of Rounds
Round 2: December 14th Round 3: January 11th Round 4: January 25th Round 5: February 8th Round 6: TBD (February 22nd or March 1st) Round 7: March 8th Round 8: March 22nd Playoffs: Saturday, March 26th with top 4 teams in-person
