Two young chess pros from Jericho were recently invited by the U.S. Chess Federation to represent the country in competition in the 2015 World Youth Championship in Halkidiki, Greece, this fall.
Chess mates Wesley Wang and Evelyn Zhu have received this honor before; this is Wang’s second invitation to represent the U.S. in competition, while this is Zhu’s third opportunity. Both coached by international grandmaster Gennady Saglachik, they each represented the U.S. in their age categories last year in Durban, South Africa.
In a letter congratulating both young chess masters, U.S. Chess Federation special projects consultant Jerry Nash said, “While this tournament will require time away from the classroom, the experience of foreign travel and the interaction with students in such a unique setting make this a wonderful educational opportunity. As a parent and a teacher, I have seen firsthand the impact that these experiences have on the lives of students.”
Last year, Syosset Chess Mates hosted a Chess in the Park event at the Syosset-Woodbury Community Park to support Wang and Zhu in their trip to the 2014 tournament, raising about $2,000. Officials want to host another Chess in the Park program this year in the hopes of building a tradition.
