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Déjà Vu: Oak Hall, Frazer School combine for three national chess titles 

Dec 16, 2025 12:58 pm
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Oak Hall's first grade chess team. From left to right, Tanner Samant, Leon Wu, Miyuki Phillips and Joseph Aghdashi in the front row; Lincoln Laconi, Santiago McMillen, Sam Li and Levi Merkel in the middle row; President of US Chess Kevin Pryor, Oak Hall Head Coach Tim Tusing and Oak Hall Assistant Coach Ayush Maddikonda.
Oak Hall's first grade chess team. From left to right, Tanner Samant, Leon Wu, Miyuki Phillips and Joseph Aghdashi in the front row; Lincoln Laconi, Santiago McMillen, Sam Li and Levi Merkel in the middle row; President of US Chess Kevin Pryor, Oak Hall Head Coach Tim Tusing and Oak Hall Assistant Coach Ayush Maddikonda.
Courtesy Tim Tusing
Key Points

In a repeat from 2024, Oak Hall School and The Frazer School brought a trio of first-place finishes back to Gainesville after the US Chess Federation’s National K-12 Grade Championships on Dec. 12-14 in Spokane, Washington. 

The Frazer School’s 11th-grade chess team garnered 15 points, with each of its three students winning 5 points across the seven-round tournament—players earning a single point for a win, half a point for a tie and no points for a loss.

The team included Abhiram Pothuri, Jerry Yao and Jolie Huang. The three ended up in sixth, seventh and ninth in the individual standings, and these students also won the 10th-grade team championship last year.  

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But The Frazer School extended its winning margin, from half a point last year to a full point in 2025.  

“I am so proud of these kids,” Frazer School Chess coach Britt Ryerson said in the release. “I have worked with several of them over many years, and it has been a great joy to watch them improve so dramatically over the years. All three of the team members won five of their seven matches. This is the kind of consistency you need to win team championships.”   

The Frazer School’s Akash Jani also placed first individually in the fifth-grade division.  

The Frazer School's 11th-grade chess team hold trophies after winning first place at the US Chess Federation’s National K-12 Grade Championships.
Courtesy The Frazer School The Frazer School’s 11th-grade chess team won gold at the US Chess Federation’s National K-12 Grade Championships.

Oak Hall School earned first place in the kindergarten and first-grade team championships, the same categories the Eagles won in 2024. With these two championships, Oak Hall has now won 30 total national chess championships.  

Leon Wu (5 points) led the way for the first graders, with Levi Merkel (4.5) and Tanner Samant (4.5) close behind. With 14 total points, the team outscored second place by one point.  

Samant also ended as the top seed among first graders rated 800-999. 

Melody Zeng (5.5) and Will Johnson (4) pushed the kindergarten team to headstart, and both Xenos Vrakas (3.5) and Tyler Justice (3.5) earned enough points to secure gold. 

Zeng also received a third-place finish in the individual standings. 

Oak Hall’s 5th graders pulled out a third-place finish, with Addison Baumstark (5), James McDonald (4.5) and Asher Austin (4.5).  

Oak Hall School's first grade (left) and kindergarten chess teams pose around their trophies.
Courtesy US Chess Oak Hall School’s first grade (left) and kindergarten chess teams won first place at the US Chess Federation’s National K-12 Grade Championships.

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