MADISON – In its sixth year, the All Girls State Chess Championship experienced another record-setting attendance when it convened at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.

The 2023 event set an attendance record with 66 participants, who competed in HudsonAlpha’s impressive library and auditorium.

“It was so appropriate to hold this event at HudsonAlpha where STEM skills and innovation are on full display. Girls who play chess are analytic problem-solvers, and we wanted them to see where these skills can be utilized in the future,” Ranae Bartlett said. Bartlett is President of Madison City Chess League or MCCL.

State Sen. Arthur Orr sponsored the tournament.

“We were excited to see girls representing Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering, Academy for Science and Foreign Language or ASFL, Altamont, Auburn High School, Baldwin Arts and Academic Magnet, Bob Jones High School, Brocks Gap Intermediate School, Columbia Elementary School, Discovery Middle School, Heritage Elementary School, Hilltop Montessori, Horizon Elementary School, Lee Scott Academy – Auburn, James Clemens High School, Liberty Middle School, Madison Elementary School, Midtown Elementary School, Mill Creek Elementary School, Rainbow Elementary School and the home school community,” Bartlett said.

“Thank you to all the families who support their girls playing chess, and thank you to all our coaches and teacher chess club sponsors who help grow this game!” Bartlett said.

In the championship, the top five scores in each section earned individual awards. The top three teams in each section received team awards.

The following results for the championship start with first place and continue in descending order:

* K-12 Section individuals — Sarah Peter, Nirvana Rajbhandari, Emily Jiang, Oviya Gowder, Advitya Kana and Nora Farris (tied for fifth).

* K-12 Section teams — Bob Jones, James Clemens and Discovery.

* K-6 Section individuals — Kylie Zou, Sophia Jerez, Moranu Adedoyin, Esinam Tettey and Luna Qu.

* K-6 Section teams – Discovery, Rainbow Elementary School and Columbia.

* K-3 Section individuals – Alice Zou, Avyaktha Subramania, Annabelle Hsu, Summer Seewald and Udara Sarathchandra.

All competitors received an All Girls State shirt.

“Many thanks to Nadia Sosonkina who took our awards photos and to Huntsville City Council President John Meredith who helped hand out awards,” Bartlett said.

MCCL’s mailing address is P.O. Box 843, Madison, AL 35758. For more information, visit madisonchess.com.