ChessKidsNation Players Dominate the 2026 Alabama State Scholastic Chess Championship!
What an amazing weekend for ChessKidsNation! Our students delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Alabama State Scholastic Chess Championship, held March 7–8 in Huntsville, Alabama at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Competing against the top scholastic chess players from across Alabama, our young champions brought home multiple team trophies and numerous individual state awards! 
Their hard work, strategic thinking, and passion for chess truly paid off on the state stage.
________________________________________
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Trace Crossings Elementary School – FIRST PLACE – STATE TEAM CHAMPIONS
Primary Under 400
Team Members:
Shrihan Patlori, Leon Shrestha, Levon Shrestha
Brock’s Gap Intermediate School – 2nd Place Team
Primary Under 400
Team Members:
Nithin Dama, Aadya Barla, Aayush Banala
Riverchase Elementary School – FIRST PLACE – STATE TEAM CHAMPIONS
Elementary Under 700
Team Members:
Jonah Whitson, Keshav Madhav Menon, Jordan Sok
Berry Middle School– FIRST PLACE – STATE TEAM CHAMPIONS
Middle School Under 1100
Team Members:
Devmith Sivurupitiya, Jayson Sok, Dominic Weeks, Zohair Ajani, Holden Schrimsher, Pierre Fremiot, Danny Camburn, Noura Eskander, Mia Jones
New Century Technology High School – 2nd Place Team
High School Under 1300
Team Member:
Eshan Deverapalli
________________________________________
INDIVIDUAL STATE WINNERS
Primary Under 400
Alexander Thrasher – Advent Episcopal School – 1st Place – State Champion
Shrihan Patlori – Trace Crossings Elementary School – 2nd Place
Viraj Aggarwal – Highlands School – 3rd Place (Tied)
Nithin Dama – Brock’s Gap Intermediate School – 3rd Place (Tied)
Shivangshu Banerjee – Rocky Ridge Elementary School – 3rd Place (Tied)
Elementary Under 700
Jonah Whitson – Riverchase Elementary School School – 5th Place
Elementary Championship
Sri Medhansh Malla – Brock’s Gap Intermediate School – 3rd Place (Tied)
Primary Championship
Ved Raval – Liberty Park Elementary School – 3rd Place (Tied)
Middle School Under 1100
Arjun Arora – Bruno Montessori Academy – 1st Place – State Champion
Devmith Sivurupitiya – Berry Middle School – 1st Place (Tied)
Viraat Satkuri – Oak Mountain Middle School– 3rd Place (Tied)
Samarth Arora – The Altamont School– 3rd Place (Tied)
High School Under 1300
Krishna Patil – R. F. Bumpus Middle School – 1st Place – State Champion
Eshan Deverapalli – New Century Technology High School – 2nd Place (Tied)
Aashka Vyas – LAMP High School – 3rd Place (Tied)
________________________________________
We are incredibly proud of every ChessKidsNation player who competed!
These achievements reflect months of dedication, preparation, and perseverance. Special thanks to our supportive parents, schools, and coaches who continue to nurture the next generation of chess champions.
The future of chess in Alabama is bright — and many of its stars are rising from ChessKidsNation!
Please join us in congratulating these amazing young champions!
