Georgia Chess Association

GCA Scholastics

2011-2012 Scholastic Schedule


MLK Holiday Tournament 16 Jan 2012 (Mon) - Peachtree Presbyterian Church
North Regional (NMAR) - 28 Jan 2012 (Sat) - Westin Atlanta Perimeter North
East Regional (EMAR) - 04 Feb 2012 (Sat) - Creekland Middle School (Lawrenceville)
Collegiate State championship - 11 Feb 2012 (Sat) -Candler Library, Emory University
West Regional (WMAR) - 12 Feb 2012 (Sun) - Campbell HS (Smyrna)
South Regional (SMAR) - 25 Feb 2012 (Sat) -New Schools at Carver
K-8 State Championship - 17 Mar 2012 (Sat) - New Schools at Carver
Georgia HS State championship - 24 Mar 2012 (Sat) -Winship Ballroom, Emory University
Georgia Jr. Invitational - Apr 21-22, 2012 - Winship Ballroom, Emory University
State Series for TDs/Coaches/Organizers I & II - Apr 21, Apr 22, 2012 - Winship Ballroom, Emory University
Georgia Collegiate Open - Apr 21, 2012 - Winship Ballroom, Emory University
Georgia Open Individual Scholastic - May 20, 2012 (Sun) - Campbell HS (Smyrna)


(We are working on the 2012-2013 Scholastic Schedule! Email suggestions to: Ben Johnson at 1vp@georgiachess.org)

One large Mega-Qualifier instead of Four Regionals?


Cobb Galleria Centre (Vast Exhibition Halls!)

The Scholastic Committee is debating this issue to examine the feasibility of using the Galleria as the venue site for a single "Mega-Qualifier" held on one weekend over four separate regionals. A "Mega-Qualifier" would be logistically more difficult, but may reduce volunteer "burnout." Another advantage is that a Mega-Qualifier would eliminate the strength differences among the different Regions, which have always been a point of debate. To weigh in, contact Ben Johnson at 1vp@georgiachess.org

New Scholastic Regions for 2012!


Graphic courtesy of Rich Mielke

With more students participating in Scholastic chess, Cobb county had to be split, creating a fourth region to make competition more manageable. The four Metro Atlanta Area Regions for Chess Competition are shown here. The West region consists of Cobb County West of I-75, along with Cherokee County and areas West. The "South" region comprises Cobb County East of I-75 and the Southern portion of Fulton County, along with other counties South. The North Region includes Fulton County north of the I-285 arc and Forsyth County. The East Region includes DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties, and areas East.

Middle School competition has been consolidated within the East And West Regionals:

Middle Schoolers living in the NORTH Region will play in the EASTERN Regional 4 Feb
Middle Schoolers living in the SOUTH Region will play in the WESTERN Regional 12 Feb
Congratulations to the first place finishers of the 2011 Grade Level Championship!

GradePlayerScore
12thMichael Christianson3.5
11thRyan Christianson3.5
10thAndy Wang4.0
9thJustin Swaby4.0
8thIlyusha Belegradek3.0
8thPranay Vemulamada3.0
7thNathan Wu4.5
7thAmaan Pirani4.5
6thAnthony Raksasouk4.0
6thAinesh Balaga4.0
6thShawn Gu4.0
6thSamhitha Dasari4.0
5thSidharth Balaga5.0
5thGururaj Deshpande5.0
4thSagan Hartley4.5
4thKapish Potula4.5
4thMatthew Stadter4.5
3rdKamen Iliev5.0
2ndHunter Payne5.0
2ndAkshay Raj5.0
1stAlex Xu4.5
KDrew Justice4.0
KJacob Wood4.0
KBrooks Leingang4.0

All Sections crosstables

GCA "Triple Threat" Tournaments have been rated! Click here for rating results

Unrated Yansen Lokanata gets upset win at Collegiate Open!!

Unrated Pavel Komarov wins Collegiate Open U1600 section

Jayashree Sekar wins State Series I!!

Alex Little wins State Series II!!

Michael Christianson wins HS Junior Invitational and becomes Georgia's nominee to the 2012 Denker Tournament!!

Raghurama Bukkarayasamudram wins K-8 Junior Invitational and becomes Georgia's nominee to the 2012 Barber Tournament!!


Winship Ballroom in Dobbs University Center at Emory University

Junior Scholastic Invitational
HS Results
K-8 Results
"State Series 1 & 2" FREE for TDs/Coaches/Organizers/Volunteers!
  • Announcement

    • State Series I results:
    Combined Results
    Tiebreak Results

    State Series II results:
    Combined Results
    Tiebreak Results

    Georgia Collegiate Open
  • Announcement

    • Open Section Results
    U1600 Section Results
    Open Tiebreak Results
    U1600 Tiebreak Results

    Events were held simultaneously at the Emory University Winship Ballroom

    K-8 State Championship - 17 Mar 2012 (Sat)


    The New Schools at Carver
    55 McDonough Boulevard Southeast Atlanta, GA 30315-2316


    Participants are invited from Regionals participating teams on the basis of performance.
    Coordinators are Sally Dorn and Fun Fong.

    North Regional (NMAR) 28 Jan 2012 (Sat) - Westin Atlanta Perimeter North,
    7 Concourse Parkway, Atlanta, 30328


    Coordinators were Ben Johnson, Rexline Daniel, and Matt Chappell.

    East Regional (EMAR) - 04 Feb 2012 (Sat) - Creekland Middle School
    170 Russell Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30043


    Coordinators are Ande Noktes and Matt Chappell

    Creekland Middle School

    Middle Schoolers within the Nouthern Region will play in this Regional

    Creekland MS (Lawrenceville) Venue Information
    Tournament announcement flyer
    Register Here!

    Up-to-the-minute registration list

    West Regional (WMAR) - 12 Feb 2012 (Sun) - Campbell HS
    5265 Ward Street Smyrna, GA 30080


    Coordinators are Tarun Ganeriwal, Sally Dorn, and Lisa Wheeler.

    2011 WMAR at Campbell HS

    Middle Schoolers within the Southern Region will play in this Regional

    Campbell HS (Smyrna) Venue Information
    Tournament announcement flyer
    Register Here!

    Up-to-the-minute registration list

    South Regional (SMAR) - 25 Feb 2012 (Sat)

    The New Schools at Carver
    55 McDonough Boulevard Southeast Atlanta, GA 30315-2316

    Coordinators are Frank Johnson, Fun Fong, and Lisa Wheeler.
    New Schools at Carver (Atlanta) Location
    Important SMAR Details
    Register Online Here!
    Coaches only: Team Registration Form (Optional)
    Up-to-the-minute registration list

    Northern Metro Area Regional (NMAR) Redux


    Chess was great between the "King" and "Queen" buildings of Atlanta! The first of our regional competions, NMAR, (North Metro Atlanta Regional) was on 28 January 2012 (Saturday).

    2012 NMAR K-5 Results
    2012 NMAR K-3 Results

    Middle Schoolers within the Northern Region will play in the Eastern Regional on 4 Feb

    GCA Scholastic Committee

    Ben Johnson, 1st Vice President, is looking for interested persons to serve on the GCA Scholastic Committee. This Committee helps set policy for the GCA Scholastic program and organizes our ambitious tournament schedule.

    2011-2012 Committee Members are:

    • Sally Dorn
    • Ande Noktes
    • Katie Hartley
    • Hal Morrison
    • Ted Weiber, Sr (HS Program)

    We could use a half dozen more parents to help create policy and organize tournaments! Contact Ben at     1vp@georgiachess.org

    MLK Holiday Tournament Monday 16 Jan 2012 at
    Peachtree Presbyterian Church Family Commons


    Results will be posted shortly in the 'Results' tab.

    Coordinators are Fun Fong, Katie Hartley (Programming), and Susan Justice (Registrar). We will need approximately two dozen additional more volunteers to work on game day. The venue has placed a cap of 300 registrants and this cap will be firm in consideration of our hosts. In view of this situation, the Board has voted to not allow on-site registration at all, reflecting a change in our previous notice. We are planning for an appropriate program to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Top Rated Juniors

    Tables of the top-rated juniors in Georgia are now being compiled by Keith Sewell. They are on the ratings page.