Daily Message from Coach Russ - One Year Ago - A Magical Nationals Weekend


Building communities around chess and embarking on the daunting process of developing teams that can compete and win and the City, State and National level has always been the hallmark of our ICN programs. The process of first introducing players and teams to chess and then watching them grow and develop to where they can compete and win at the National level is Magical.

One year ago we were all together in Nashville for the Elementary National Championships. One year ago we all celebrated Mothers day together with flowers and hugs. One year ago Cooper Ho, who was first introduced to competitive chess through our program at PS 59 walked the Nationals Stage as the K- 5 United States National Champion! One year ago the Lower Lab Lions delivered an epic performance and earn the Country's Top recognition and the title of Primary National Team Champions. One year ago, PS 139's Abyl Flores walked the clouds with a perfect 7-0 score earning himself a National Championship. One year ago PS 59 secured their third consecutive Team National Championship!

One year ago ICN programs dominated the United States National Championships and walked away with multiple Individual and Team National Champions and everything in between. PS 11, PS 33, PS 139, PS 77 and PS 59 ALL WALKED THE NATIONAL STAGE! One year ago was Magic...ICN Magic! You can find the full report below

We dearly missed that this weekend. All of the year's of collective hard work from of all of our players, coaches, teams and communities gave ourselves the opportunity to win at the National level. I HAVE NO DOUBT that this past weekend would have been our BEST YET...

With that said, rest assured that we will return stronger and better than ever before. Let's all continue to make that a reality each and every day!

We will be working on putting together a Year-End Championship series that will give our players one last competitive opportunity this season where they can showcase their hard work and achieve well deserved Individual and Team Success.

We will shortly be announcing our ICN All Girls Championship, ICN Grade Level Championship and Year Ending ICN Overall Championship!

Be well and never stop pushing,

Coach Russ



National Championship Report:

The 2019 Elementary National Championships showcased on the country's biggest stage the tremendous effort, talent, depth, and excellence of our ICN players and programs. 

ICN programs across the board established themselves as the very best as we won multiple individual and team National Championships and everything in between. The energy was palpable, and the success was contagious! 

With 86 competitors representing schools from PS 11, PS 33, PS 116, PS 77, PS 10, PS 139, PS 111, Basis Manhattan and PS 59 it was ICN's programs largest Elementary National Championship contingent to date.

Hosted in Nashville, TN, our Impact Coaching Network players and teams competed rigorously over three full days, across 9 national sections and against 2,254 of the country's very best competitors. 

After the final games had been played, the end results were outstanding! This spoke volumes to the commitment and excellence of our players, parents, coaches, and the entire ICN community.

Full article w/ photos

ICN programs celebrated:

  • Twelve team trophies

  • Eleven Top 10 team finishes

  • Six Top 5 team placements

  • K -3 Championship - Team National Champions!

  • K - 3 U 100 Team National Champions!

  • K - 5 Individual National Champion

  • K - 5 U 900 Individual National Champion

  • K-5 Championship 3rd Place

  • K-5 U 900 Runner-up

Team Awards:

  • PS 77 - K/3 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

  • PS 59 - K/3 U 1000 - NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

  • PS 59 - K/1 Championship - 9th Place

  • PS 33 - K/5 Championship - 3rd Place

  • PS 11 - K/1 Championship - 10th Place

  • PS 33 - K/5 U 1200 - 4th Place

  • PS 33 - K/3 U 1000- 6th Place

  • PS 33 - K/6 Blitz - 10th Place

  • PS 33 - K/3 U 700 - 15th Place

  • PS 139 - K/5 U900 - Runner-up

  • PS 139 - K/3 U 700 - 3rd Place

  • PS 139 - K/6 U1400 - 9th Place

Individual Awards:

  • Cooper Ho - K/5 National Champion

  • Abyl Downshen - National Champion - K/5 U 900

  • Avaan Chamadia - K/3 Championship Runner-up

  • Michah Reiss - 12th Place - K/1 Championship

  • Boyan Wang - 4th Place - K/3 U 1000

  • Sho Moritani - 7th Place - K/3 U 1000

  • Cooper Barr - 15th Place - K/3 U 1000

  • Jude Kazan - Tied for 20th - K/3 Championship

  • Alexandra Kayne - 29th Place - K/3 U 700

  • Tanitoluwa Adewumi - 20th Place - K/3 Championship

  • Jacob Meyers - 15th Place - K/3 U 1000

  • Conor Chen - 30th Place - K/3 U 700

  • Mahnak Islam 2nd Place - K/6 Blitz U 1200

  • Chloe Stark - 2nd Place - K/6 Blitz U 1100

  • Elliott Goodrich - 13th Place - K/1 U 500

  • Miles Dowshen - 4th Place - K/3 U 700

  • Jordy Puebla - 11th Place - K/3 U 700

  • Caitlin Adams - 22nd Place - K/3 U 700

  • Aiden Grytsenko - 30th Place - K/3 U 700


Don't miss the Social Team Activity Room (STAR) where players can stop in and say hello throughout the day.

  • 10:00 - 11:00 AM - Puzzle Duel vs Coach Matheu

  • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Rapid Room (Coach James Black)

  • 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Serious Game Review (Coach Angel and Coach Jonathan)

  • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Beat the Coach! (Coach Alex)

Come and See Us There! (Link in Morning Email)


Nashali Paulino