Princeton Day School chess team wins national championship
The Princeton Day School Chess team competed at the National Junior High Championship in Atlanta, Georgia on April 6, 7, and 8, with more than 1,100 other players, and took the top prize.
In addition, Winston Ni was named National Champion, winning all games in the K-8 championship section.
The team of Winston Ni, Eric Wu, Albert Ming, Kai Shah and Dodge Martinson have won many state championships and have come close in many national championships, often missing first place by a half a point, which makes this a big win, according to chess teacher Bonnie Waitzkin.
School officials say this winning chess team has been playing together since they began taking chess classes as part of the PDS Lower School curriculum when they were 5 and 6 years old. In Kindergarten and 1st grade, Princeton Day School students take chess as a class during the school day. In addition, they can study chess after school in beginner, intermediate, advanced, and tournament classes in Lower and Middle School.
PDS also hosts monthly chess tournaments on campus on Saturdays, and the chess team competes in tournaments both regionally and nationally throughout the year.
Hong Ni, father of Winston Ni, reflected on the PDS program, and on this championship team.
“These boys grew up together as chess players and played as a team at the nationals for a number of years,” Hong Ni said. “In a way, this team championship is not an isolated outcome. It is many years of hard work by players and commitment by parents. It is their relentless pursuit year after year.”
Winston Ni plans to become a national chess master as quickly as possible.
“Winston is rated 2165 and will become a National Master if he wins just one or two more games to be rated over 2200,” Waitzkin said. “He will be among the youngest to reach master.”