The Frazer School’s chess team won the 2026 U.S. Amateur Team Playoffs on Sept. 12.
The team, consisting of Bach Ngo, Abhiram Pothuri, Jerry Yao and Jolie Huang, earned its spot in the national chess tournament by winning the South Regional earlier this year, ahead of nearly 50 teams.
According to a Frazer School press release, there are four in-person U.S. Amateur Team regionals held annually in February – North, South, East and West – and they are open to all ages. During the South Regional and the online playoffs, The Frazer School’s opponents featured a mix of scholastic and adult players.
The release said the U.S. Amateur Team tournaments are unique because 4-person teams face off head-to-head – board 1 vs. board 1, board 2 vs. board 2, etc. To earn a match win, one team must outscore the other team.
The playoffs featured the champion teams from the four regionals. In the semifinal against the North’s representative, The Frazer School advanced by a score of 5.5-2.5. Not long after, the national title was captured with an identical 5.5-2.5 tally, this time against the top team from the West.
Jolie Huang led The Frazer School with a record of three wins and one draw while playing on board 4.
Team captain and International Master Bach Ngo played on board 1 and was excited to compete alongside his high school classmates one more time as he prepares to begin undergraduate studies at The University of Chicago.
“Last year we made it to the playoffs and finished second. This year we had one goal – to be champions,” Ngo said in the release. “I couldn’t be more proud of my teammates.”