15 elementary school students showed up for the New Year Chess Tournament.  Deep thinkers attend this tournament from grades kindergarten up through 5th grade to compete against the strongest competition scholastic chess has to offer. This event is one of the strongest events to help your child prepare for the official level competition.  Several students in Class A were one of talented youngsters rated over the 1000 mark in the Japan Chess Association.

Students have been rapidly improving since taking lessons in the 2015 winter camp.  International Master Shinya Kojima has stopped by during the tournament to provide analysis to his students.  IM Shinya has coached several students that have qualified for the World Youth Chess Olympiad.  Students in Tokyo Bilingual Chess Club are being taught by the top chess trainers in the world. It is absolutely astounding that we have access to these talented coaches.

The event was so much fun as FIDE Master Anton Frisk Kockum provided live commentary.  FM Anton also conducted the Q&A session with chess dads and moms. 

Congratulations to our 2016 New Year Chess Tournament winners:

Class A: Haruto Endo with 5.0/5.0

Class A: Ryousuke Sugimoto with 4.0/5.0

Class A: Ray Truter with 2.5/5.0

Class A: Kai Tatsumi with 2.5/5.0

Class B: Isshin Maehara with 5.0/5.0

Class B: Aki Hasegawa with 4.0/5.0

Class B: Anastasia Lioubimova with 2.5/5.0

Class B: Aarushi Deo with 2.5/5.0

Remember!  Even thought we love rewarding all our top players for their chess excellence, we reward everyone who comes and we acknowledge all our players and think they are just the bees-knees for coming out, challenging themselves, enjoying chess and having a great day of family and community chess fun! 

The next big tournament will be April 2016.  Everyone who works at Tokyo Biligual Chess Club has been involved with organizing and running tournaments from last year. If you are serious about providing your children with the best preparatory opportunities for the upcoming country events, consider attending this event. Getting good at something is never really easy but reward for mastering it is priceless.  Try and you will see!