Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, is only 90 minutes from the District of Columbia, but as a town of 750 residents it can feel like a world away. Chess provides common ground between our communities.
High School Spanish teacher Pedro Miguel, an experienced tournament player from Spain, has created a successful chess team that finished second in their state last year. They have higher ambitions for this year.
To help them, we donated more than 20 books to help them start a chess library in their community. We also plan to stage a virtual match between their students and ours. Because they are not so far away from us, they will try to come to DC for an in-person tournament.
Chess is universal and can bridge cultures. Whether opponents are rural, small town, suburban, or urban, no matter their politics, without regard to their native languages, we can all enjoy playing the game together.
Sr. Miguel (with the help of his daughter Itaca) accepts chess books to start a library
Chantilly High School dominated the Metro Area Chess League playoffs yesterday. Run as a three-round Swiss System tournament in the beautiful offices of the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC, the playoffs featured the top eight schools from the regular season.
The final standings in tiebreak order were:
1. Chantilly
2. Langley
3. Jackson-Reed
4. Oakton
5. Montgomery Blair
6. Richard Montgomery
7. Magruder
8. McLean
In an event like this, using tiebreaks makes even less sense than in a regular tournament, so it is better to think that Langley, Jackson-Reed, and Oakton tied for second place, with Blair, Richard Montgomery, and Magruder tying for fifth.
Chantilly won all three of its matches without relying on the tiebreak system designed to eliminate drawn matches. Demonstrating how evenly matched the teams were, five of the twelve matches ended with 2-2 scores, with tiebreak employed to determine the winners.
Twenty-seven schools entered the league this year. Plaques acknowledging regular season performance go to Langley as the top Virginia school, Richard Montgomery as the top Maryland school, and Jackson-Reed as the top District of Columbia school. In addition, BASIS DC won the competition for the top DC Public Charter School, with E.L. Haynes finishing as the runner-up in that category.
The regular season competition was a hybrid of online with in-person matches. The large majority of matches were played online, but a few were played in person. Scheduling the matches was a challenge for the coaches and captains, and during the playoffs the coaches had a meeting to discuss methods to improve that process. Those suggestions, which are designed to improve the communication process among the competing schools, will be implemented for the 2024-2025 season.
Registration for next year’s season will begin in September, with the first matches taking place in November. The 2024-25 regular season is scheduled to end in March 2025. Learn more at: https://chessctr.org/macl/
The Metro Area Chess League continued its trend of closely decided matches at the top in Round 7. Leaders Langley edged their contest against Montgomery Blair by 2.5-1.5, clinching a playoff spot with their seventh win in seven matches. Behind them, however, there is a very close race, with Chantilly, Jackson-Reed and Oakton currently holding the three remaining playoff spots. Of those on the outside looking in, Blair and Richard Montgomery both have a serious chance of making the playoffs with a win in their final round matches.
This year has been the most competitive Metro Area Chess League since we brought the competition back in 2021. Two dozen public, private and charter schools from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia are matching wits to try to earn one of the available four playoff berths at the end of the spring.
Three-quarters of the way through the regular season, Langley High School (McLean, VA) have separated themselves from the chasing pack, having won all 6 of their matches and scoring 20.5 out of a possible 24 board points. League newcomers Chantilly High School (Chantilly, VA) have been their closest competition with 5 match points out of 6 — their only loss coming against Langley in a close 1.5-2.5 decision in Round 4.
Behind them, MACL debutants Jackson-Reed High School from northwest D.C. and two-time defending champions Montgomery Blair High School from Silver Spring, MD are tied on 4.5 match points and would get the final two playoff spots if the season ended right now. But with Oakton, Richard Montgomery and Magruder all in close contention just outside the top four, we expect a close race to the finish.
Two teams associated with the U.S. Chess Center played in the World Amateur Team Chess Championship in New Jersey over the weekend, and both returned with impressive awards. The Spring Hill Elementary team was the top elementary school team, and our team from the Theophilus Thompson Club was the top team with an average rating of under 1900. Congratulations to our students!
The World Amateur Team Championship, which was the US Amateur Team Championship when I was competing, was one of my two favorite tournaments (along with the U.S. Open) each year. Instead of scoring wins and losses as individuals, scores are based on the team results. Each team is four players, and they line up against the four players of another team. If a team scores more than two points (one point per win, a half-point for a draw) they score a win. With two points, a team draws that match.
Teams often decide on clever names, and the tournament offers special prizes for creative names. My favorite came from a group of women from the DC area about forty years ago. They dressed in nuns’ habits and called themselves Our Lady of Perpetual Check.
The team format relieves a lot of the pressure ordinarily experienced in chess tournaments, making the event more relaxed and fun. As a player in a team competition, if I lost my game but the team won, I could be happy. If I won my game and the team lost, I could still be satisfied that I did the best I could for the team. If I won and the team won, that was best of all. When I lost and the team also lost, we could accept that our team was out-matched and we would move on to the next round. In short, the result of each game and match was tempered and every round was a fun experience.
Both the Spring Hill Elementary and the Theophilus Thompson teams consisted of players who had experience in big tournaments, so being in a ballroom with more than 1,000 players was not daunting. The teenagers went 4.5/6; the elementary team scored 3.5 points in the six rounds.
Iceland was instrumental in making chess popular in America. Without the small island nation stepping up to host the Fischer-Spassky match in 1972, the United States would not have had a native world chess champion and chess would not have grown in popularity in America as it did.
Chess in Iceland also boomed as a result of that match. Iceland became the strongest country in the world for chess with the most grandmasters per capita in the world, a distinction it still holds. Iceland is also one of only a small handful of nations with more grandmasters, the highest title in chess, than international masters, the second-highest title.
Following the match, the United States and Iceland established an annual match among juniors of the two nations, with Americans traveling to Iceland for matches in even-numbered years, and the reverse in the odd-numbered years.
Those matches ended after the 1989 match in New York City, but after 35 years, we decided it was time to bring them back. On January 27, young Americans and Icelanders played a match via the internet, using the lichess.org platform.
We decided on a rapid time control (G/7;+3) so that each player would have the opportunity to play many players from the other side over the course of 90 minutes. Several of Iceland’s top young players were unexpectedly unavailable, giving the team from the District of Columbia and its environs a distinct advantage.
The first five games were won by the Americans, and while the Icelandic team gamely made it close at the halfway point (29-27) the US team pulled away for a 75-47 final score.
We hope to have a rematch sometime soon and are investigating playing in person again, perhaps as early as late spring this year.
Magruder 1-3 Poolesville DeMatha 1-3 McNamara E.L. Haynes 4-0 Girls Global Academy Richard Montgomery 3-1 Gonzaga Rockville 2.5-1.5 Arlington Career Center Oakton 4-0 West Springfield St. Albans 0-4 Don Bosco Cristo Rey BASIS DC 0-0 Marshall Montgomery Blair 0.5-3.5 Chantilly St. Anselm’s 2-2 Jackson-Reed Hayfield 0-0 McLean Rochambeau 4-0 BYE St. John’s 0-4 Langley McKinley Tech 0-3 Georgetown Prep
Round 3 Pairings
Below are the pairings for the third round to be played by January 12
White on Boards 1 & 3 – White on Boards 2 & 4
Poolesville – Chantilly Bishop McNamara – Richard Montgomery Langley – Rockville St. Anselm’s – Oakton Rochambeau – Magruder Jackson-Reed – EL Haynes Georgetown Prep – McLean BASIS DC – Blair West Springfield – Marshall Gonzaga – McKinley Tech Girls Global Academy – St. John’s Hayfield – DeMatha Don Bosco Cristo Rey – Arlington Career
League Standings
Teams are ranked by Match Points, then by Board Points.
The Metro Area Chess League has returned for a new season. 27 schools from around Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia comprise this year’s field of participants.
This year the round-by-round organization protocol has changed a bit: rather than gathering everyone to play all the games for one round in a single online meeting, the students and staff sponsors can coordinate amongst themselves to play the matches when it works for them. In addition to allowing greater flexibility in student participation, we also hope that this format change will allow for some individual matches to be played in person this season.
Round 1 is nearly finished, and McLean, Poolesville, Richard Montgomery and Rockville share the early lead after recording 4-0 sweeps in their opening matches.
Round 1 Results
White on Boards 1 & 3 – White on Boards 2 & 4
Don Bosco Cristo Rey 1-3 Magruder McLean 4-0 DeMatha Poolesville 4-0 Hayfield West Springfield 2-2 McKinley Tech Girls Global Academy 0-4 Rockville Bishop McNamara 2-2 St. Albans Langley 3.5-0.5 Rochambeau E.L. Haynes 0-4 St. Anselm’s Georgetown Prep 0-4 Richard Montgomery Gonzaga 2-2 BASIS DC Arlington Career Center 1-3 Montgomery Blair Chantilly 4-0 St. John’s Marshall 0-0 Jackson-Reed Oakton 4-0 BYE
Round 2 Pairings
White on Boards 1 & 3 – White on Boards 2 & 4 DeMatha – Bishop McNamara McKinley Tech – Georgetown Prep E.L. Haynes – Girls Global Academy Richard Montgomery – Gonzaga Rockville – Arlington Career Center Oakton – West Springfield St. Albans – Don Bosco Cristo Rey BASIS DC – Marshall Magruder – Poolesville Blair – Chantilly St. Anselm’s – Jackson-Reed St. John’s – Langley Hayfield – McLean Rochambeau – BYE
We have 27 teams registered for the league as of today. We are trying to find a 28th team. If another school registers this week, that school will replace the bye.
Following this round, the pairings will be based on a modified Swiss system, so that the teams that are doing well will play others that are having success while still allowing us to have category champions, such as the top team from each jurisdiction and the top charter school.
McLean – DeMatha Poolesville – Hayfield West Springfield – McKinley Tech Girls Global Academy – Rockville Bishop McNamara – St. Albans Marshall – Jackson-Reed Don Bosco Cristo Rey – Magruder Chantilly – St. John’s Langley – Rochambeau E.L. Haynes – St. Anselm’s Georgetown Prep – Richard Montgomery Gonzaga – BASIS DC Arlington Career Center – Montgomery Blair
In some places, school has started. In others, it is about to begin. For any local student, however, the last Sunday of August means that the Theophilus Thompson Club brings students in grades 7-12 together for chess.
Kids who enjoy the game and want to improve arrived in McLean yesterday for practice, lessons, and socializing. They played some blitz, as well as a game with a normal tournament time control. We discussed the strategy of the game and found some cool tactics.
This year, we plan to have students compete in the National High School Championships in April in Baltimore. We also are working on organizing internet matches with students from other countries and, if things go well, travel abroad for in-person matches as we have in previous years.
The Club meets nearly every Sunday from now through the end of the school year. Online registration is available for those who wish to join us.
Metro Area Chess League participant Col. Zadok Magruder High School is in the middle of their spring chess competition. Games are taking place in the auditorium during the school day, and Magruder’s chess club sponsor, Mr. Sanders, has put in the effort to set the event up for streaming. The games can be followed live on the school’s YouTube channel. The semifinals and finals are currently set for May 17 and 24, respectively.
We are very pleased to see school faculty members devoting time, space and energy to promote chess among students.
The Metro Area Chess League playoffs for the 2022-2023 season have concluded. Just like last year, the championship was decided in a quadrangular round-robin tournament with the top four schools from the regular season, and like last year, Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, MD) edged out Richard Montgomery High School (Rockville, MD) to take the title, with Richard Montgomery finishing as runners-up.
Gonzaga College High School of northwest Washington defeated Arlington Career Center (Arlington, VA) in their individual match to take third place, and also earn the award for the top DC school this year. Congratulations to all four playoff teams on their outstanding seasons!
Playoff Standings
1. Montgomery Blair High School (2.5 match points)
2. Richard Montgomery High School (2 match points)
As winter turns into spring, the chess tournament calendar is in full swing. Below, students in our Theophilius Thompson Club (for students in grade 7-12) are practicing on Sunday afternoon. At least three of our Sunday students will be participating in the National High School Championship in two weeks in downtown Washington.
This season’s Metro Area Chess League competition so far has been even closer and more exciting than we thought it would be. No school has secured a playoff berth yet going into the final round, and depending on the results of those matches, any of nine schools may make it in. On Tuesday night, Montgomery Blair edged a narrow match with West Springfield, 2.5-1.5, to tie Richard Montgomery on match points and move into the lead on the board points tiebreaker. Langley, Falls Church and Arlington Career Center are just half a point behind the two leaders, and along with Gonzaga College and McLean, can guarantee a final four spot by winning their last round matches. Centreville and Seneca Valley are also in with a chance of making the playoffs, although they would need to win in Round 8 and get help from results elsewhere.
Round 7 Results
Centreville High School 2-2 Richard Montgomery High School
Arlington Career Center 2-2 Falls Church High School
West Springfield High School 1.5-2.5 Montgomery Blair High School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School 1-3 Langley High School
Seneca Valley High School 2-2 Gonzaga College High School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey 0-4 McLean High School
Winston Churchill High School 1-3 Rochambeau French Intl. School
W.T. Woodson High School 3-1 St. Anselm’s Abbey School
BASIS DC 2-2 Washington Intl. School
Sandy Spring Friends School – DeMatha Catholic High School
Sidwell Friends School 0-4 Georgetown Preparatory School
Rockville High School 4-0 Eastern High School
St. Albans School 4-0 St. John’s High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School 1-3 Bishop McNamara High School
Standings After Round 7
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st
Montgomery Blair High School
5.5
19.5
2nd
Richard Montgomery High School
5.5
19
3rd
Langley High School
5
19
4th (Tie)
Arlington Career Center
5
18
4th (Tie)
Falls Church High School
5
18
6th (Tie)
Gonzaga College High School
4.5
18
6th (Tie)
McLean High School
4.5
18
8th (Tie)
Centreville High School
4.5
16
8th (Tie)
Seneca Valley High School
4.5
16
10th
Rockville High School
4
17
11th
West Springfield High School
4
16.5
12th
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
4
16
13th
Rochambeau French Intl. School
4
15.5
14th
W.T. Woodson High School
4
15
15th (Tie)
Winston Churchill High School
3.5
14.5
15th (Tie)
Washington Intl. School
3.5
14.5
17th
BASIS DC
3.5
13.5
18th (Tie)
St. Anselm’s Abbey School
3
13
18th (Tie)
Georgetown Preparatory School
3
13
20th
St. Albans School
3
12
21st
Bishop McNamara High School
3
11
22nd
Sidwell Friends School
2.5
12
23rd
Sandy Spring Friends School
2.5
11.5
24th
Don Bosco Cristo Rey
2.5
10.5
25th
DeMatha Catholic High School
2.5
10
26th
St. John’s College High School
2
10.5
27th
Eastern High School
2
10
28th
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
0.5
4.5
29th
McKinley Technology High School
0
1
30th
IDEA Public Charter School
0
0
Round 8 Pairings
McLean High School – Montgomery Blair High School
Richard Montgomery High School – Gonzaga College High School
Falls Church High School – Langley High School
Arlington Career Center – Centreville High School
Rochambeau French Intl. School – Seneca Valley High School
West Springfield High School – W.T. Woodson High School
DeMatha Catholic High School – Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Washington Intl. School – Winston Churchill High School
Georgetown Preparatory School – Rockville High School
St. Anselm’s Abbey School – BASIS DC
St. Albans School – Don Bosco Cristo Rey
Bishop McNamara High School – Sandy Spring Friends School
Sidwell Friends School – E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
Eastern High School – St. John’s College High School
This past round of the Metro Area Chess League was the most closely fought of the season so far. Most of the matches were swayed by the outcome of a single game, with several ultimately ending up as 2-2 draws. Richard Montgomery still holds the overall lead in the standings despite ceding a draw to Falls Church, who stayed half a point behind. Montgomery Blair and Arlington Career Center also tied their match 2-2 to remain in the other two playoff positions. Six other schools are half a point out of the top four.
Round 6 Results
Richard Montgomery High School 2-2 Falls Church High School
Montgomery Blair High School – Arlington Career Center
Langley High School 1-3 Centreville High School
Rochambeau French Intl. School 1-3 West Springfield High School
Washington Intl. School 1-3 Seneca Valley High School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School 2-2 Winston Churchill High School
McLean High School 3-1 DeMatha Catholic High School
Georgetown Preparatory School 2-2 W.T. Woodson High School
Bishop McNamara High School 1-3 Don Bosco Cristo Rey
Rockville High School 2-2 Sandy Spring Friends School
Gonzaga College High School 3-1 Sidwell Friends School
St. John’s High School 1-3 BASIS DC
St. Anselm’s Abbey School 2-2 St. Albans School
Eastern High School 4-0 E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
Standings After Round 6
Place
School
Total Match Points
Total Board Points
1st
Richard Montgomery High School
5
17
2nd
Montgomery Blair High School
4.5
17
3rd (Tie)
Arlington Career Center
4.5
16
3rd (Tie)
Falls Church High School
4.5
16
5th (Tie)
Langley High School
4
16
5th (Tie)
Gonzaga College High School
4
16
7th (Tie)
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
4
15
7th (Tie)
West Springfield High School
4
15
9th (Tie)
Centreville High School
4
14
9th (Tie)
Seneca Valley High School
4
14
11th
McLean High School
3.5
14
12th
Winston Churchill High School
3.5
13.5
13th
Rockville High School
3
13
14th (Tie)
Washington Intl. School
3
12.5
14th (Tie)
Rochambeau French Intl. School
3
12.5
16th (Tie)
W.T. Woodson High School
3
12
16th (Tie)
St. Anselm’s Abbey School
3
12
18th
BASIS DC
3
11.5
19th
Sidwell Friends School
2.5
12
20th (Tie)
Sandy Spring Friends School
2.5
10.5
20th (Tie)
Don Bosco Cristo Rey
2.5
10.5
22nd
St. John’s College High School
2
10.5
23rd
Eastern High School
2
10
24th
Georgetown Preparatory School
2
9
25th (Tie)
DeMatha Catholic High School
2
8
25th (Tie)
Bishop McNamara High School
2
8
25th (Tie)
St. Albans School
2
8
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 7 Pairings
Centreville High School – Richard Montgomery High School
Arlington Career Center – Falls Church High School
West Springfield High School – Montgomery Blair High School
Col. Zadok Magruder High School – Langley High School
Seneca Valley High School – Gonzaga College High School
Don Bosco Cristo Rey – McLean High School
Winston Churchill High School – Rochambeau French Intl. School
W.T. Woodson High School – St. Anselm’s Abbey School
BASIS DC – Washington Intl. School
Sandy Spring Friends School – DeMatha Catholic High School
Sidwell Friends School – Georgetown Preparatory School
Rockville High School – Eastern High School
St. Albans School – St. John’s High School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School – Bishop McNamara High School
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 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
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
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
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
Three students from Sunday Chess attended the 2022 National High School Championships in Memphis over the weekend. The tournament had been cancelled for the previous two years because of the pandemic, so there was a lot of pent-up enthusiasm for this year’s event.
This was the third Nationals Anish attended, but the first major national for Zach and Ret. All three had wonderful experiences and are more prepared for the series of national championships coming up in the DC area over the next few years.
The tournament was run exceptionally well, with professional staff handling every detail efficiently. The rounds started on time, the side events were fun for the students, and the conditions of play were the best ever for a scholastic tournament. We look forward to spectacular events at National Harbor in December and in downtown DC next March.
Posted below is a win of Zach’s from the first half of the competition. Zach, playing the black pieces, managed to hold on against an intimidating attack during the first 25 moves.
White is down a piece, but looks as though he will regain it after 26. Ne7+ Kf8 27. Qxe5 Bxe5 28. Nc6 . However, Zach’s 28….Ra6 kept him in the driver’s seat, since after 29. Nxa5 b4 30. cxb4 Bxb2, the pin on the a5-knight means that White can’t stop Black’s dangerous c-pawn without losing material.
Instead, White played 29. f4, and the game concluded: 29…Rxc6 30. fxe5 Nb7 31. Ra7 Rb6 32. exd6 Nxd6 33. h4 Ne4 34. g4 Nc5 35. Kg2 Na4 36. Kf3 Nxb2 37. Ke4 Nd3 38. Kd5 Kg7 39. g5 Re6 40. Rb7 Re5+ 41. Kd4 Rf5 42. Rb6 Nc5 43. Ke3 Na4 and White resigned. 0-1
The full set of results from the 2022 tournament is available here.
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
The Denker Tournament of High School Champions is an annual invitational event for the champions of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Named for the late Grandmaster Arnold Denker, a former U.S. Champion and a tireless promoter of chess among young people, the tournament has been one of the most prestigious national events for students in grades 9-12 since its inception 38 years ago.
The Dewain Barber National Tournament of Middle School Champions, now in its 12th year, is the corresponding annual event for students in grades 6-8. This year both the Denker and Barber tournaments will be held in the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California, from July 30 – August 2. This coming Saturday, April 2, Washington, DC will hold its qualification tournaments to determine who will represent the District in these events.
The qualifiers will be held at the DC Housing Finance Agency at 815 Florida Ave., NW., Washington DC 20001. The event is open to DC residents only, and is nationally rated by the U.S. Chess Federation, so participants must join the USCF if they are not already members. Proof of COVID vaccination is required to participate.
The entry fee is $20. This is a four-round Swiss system tournament with time control: Game/25 + 10. Players should bring clocks if they have them. The first round starts at 1 P.M.
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
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
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
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
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
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
The qualifying tournaments were held this past Saturday, May 22nd, outdoors on the Catholic University campus. Organized by DC Chess League Scholastic Coordinator Robin Ramson and directed by David Mehler, ten players braved the sunshine and cicadas for a morning of excellent competition.
