The CCL Chess School

Chess, Community and Learning

 

Chess lessons and more, for players of all strengths and ages.

CCL Community Activity in July

Summer Meeting for College Planning

Discuss issues with College Plannning and Chess.

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Student Spotlight: Dae San Kim

“Dae San Kim’s inspiring journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and community support. From overcoming early setbacks to achieving remarkable milestones in chess, academics, leadership, and service, he has shown how dedication and a growth mindset can unlock incredible opportunities. His story reflects the heart of CCL’s mission: developing not just champions on the board, but well-rounded, compassionate leaders ready to make a positive impact in the world.” ~ Jeff Shen,  Head of CCL Chess School

Student Spotlight: Dae San Kim

Today, CCL is proud to celebrate the extraordinary journey of Dae San Kim, our 30th program graduate, whose remarkable achievements both on and off the chessboard have inspired us all. This fall, he will join the Stanford University Class of 2029.

Dae San’s love for chess began in kindergarten, sparked by his father and brother. Like many young players, he faced early setbacks; he recalls going 0/5 in his second tournament and wondering if he should ever play again. But instead of giving up, Dae San persevered, steadily improving and eventually joining CCL eight years ago. Through hard work, resilience, and the guidance of our amazing coaches GM Vlatko Bogdanovski and IM Atanas Kizov, he achieved his childhood goal of surpassing a 2000 Elo rating. Along the way, he captured the Ohio K-3 Championship, won five Ohio Grade Level Championships, the U2100 section of the Ohio Chess Congress, and earned many other top finishes. In high school, he also gave back by founding an after-school chess program for a low-income school in Cleveland.

Beyond the 64 squares, Dae San’s accomplishments are equally remarkable. At school, his leadership and initiative shine through his roles as co-editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, captain of Science Olympiad and math competition teams, NHS president, and co-president of the Asian-American Society.

Dae San completed four NASA internships, participated in environmental policy research, and even launched a climate tech start-up through the NASA SEES program, winning national prizes and an invitation to present at the prestigious AGU Bright STaRS conference. His list of service projects is equally inspiring, including tutoring, youth hospital council service, and caring for the homeless in Cleveland.

An accomplished musician, he studied electric guitar since third grade, toured with the School of Rock Headliners house band, played in his school’s jazz orchestra, and formed three rock bands that performed paid gigs around Cleveland.

His academic excellence is further reflected in a 1580 SAT (800 math), National Merit Finalist status, two-time AIME qualifier, and a US Presidential Scholar semifinalist honor.

This past spring, Dae San graduated with the highest GPA in his class and won his school’s top math prize. This fall, Dae San will head to Stanford University, where he hopes to study astrophysics, aerospace or mechanical engineering, computer science, or premed, following in the footsteps of his older brother, also a former Ohio chess champion.

Through it all, Dae San credits chess, his family, and the CCL community for giving him the resilience, confidence, and perspective to thrive. As he shared, “I’m incredibly grateful for the community at CCL and how they have supported me as a person and in becoming a better chess player.”

Dae San, your story reminds all of us of the power of perseverance, curiosity, and service. We could not be prouder of you, and we wish you the very best of luck as you embark on this exciting new chapter at Stanford and beyond. Keep reaching for the stars. We know you will continue to shine!

With warmest congratulations,
The entire CCL community

 

CCL Chess Stars Score Big at the Cleveland Open!

Our CCL Chess students continue to impress, seizing every opportunity to showcase their talent, determination, and love for the game. At this past weekend’s Cleveland Open, our players delivered strong performances across multiple sections from intermediate to master level and brought home well-earned victories.

Congratulations to the following prize winners:

  • Aryan Balyan  3.5 points, new peak rating, $325 prize (Major Section, FIDE Rated)
  • Maxwell Chung  4.0 points, undefeated, new peak rating, $350 prize (U2100 Section)
  • Aanya Parul Karthikeyan  4.0 points, new peak rating, $400 prize (U1800 Section)
  • Het Patel  3.5 points, $100 prize (U1800 Section)
  • Soham Gupta  4.0 points, undefeated, new peak rating, $200 prize (U1200 Section)

 

Spotlight: National Master Aryan Balyan

We are thrilled to celebrate CCL’s newest US Chess National Master, Aryan Balyan! A college junior, Aryan has been a long-time standout in scholastic chess, winning titles such as the Queen City Classic and the Ohio K-12 Grade Level Championships. This spring, Aryan studied abroad in Spain, continuing to explore and develop his chess skills internationally. Upon returning to Ohio, his rating surpassed 2200, officially earning him the prestigious National Master title, an outstanding milestone for any American chess player.

Just a month later, Aryan competed in the Cleveland Open, entering the final round undefeated and leaving with a new peak rating and a cash prize. Earlier this year, he led his university team to victory at the 2025 Pan American Intercollegiate Championship in Charlotte, NC. His journey reflects both a deep commitment to the game and the value of consistent, long-term effort.

 

Rising Star: Aanya Parul Karthikeyan

A special shout-out to 10-year-old Aanya Parul Karthikeyan, whose determination and growth have been nothing short of extraordinary. After an incredible performance at the Cleveland Open, she reached a new peak rating of 1721, a 700-point increase in just one year! This makes her the fastest-growing chess girl in Ohio.

Over the past 12 months, Aanya has competed in 41 regular-rated tournaments, including an impressive eight tournaments in May alone. Her tireless effort, focus, and resilience make her a role model for young players everywhere. I’m reminded of CCL founder and coach Alan’s words: “Focus on the experience rather than the result.” Aanya and her family embrace that philosophy, and her success is a testament to the power of perseverance and a growth mindset.

If you ever feel discouraged by a tough tournament, think of Aanya—her journey is proof that dedication and passion truly pay off.

 

Undefeated: Maxwell Chung & Soham Gupta

Big congratulations to Maxwell Chung and Soham Gupta, who both finished the tournament undefeated, reaching impressive new peak ratings!

Maxwell has been on a remarkable winning streak since the MOTCF event in March. He broke through the 1800 rating mark in April, and just two months later, reached 1900, a rapid rise that reflects his consistent hard work and focus. At this pace, Maxwell is on track to cross 2000 by the end of the year, if not sooner!

Soham, while not competing as frequently as some of his peers, continues to make steady and promising progress. Since MOTCF, he has shown strong potential, and his next big milestone, reaching a 1400 rating, is well within reach. We’re excited to see where his chess journey takes him next!

 

Strong Finish: Het Patel’s Comeback

We also want to recognize Het Patel for his impressive comeback after a tough loss in Round 3. He bounced back with determination and finished the tournament strong, earning a prize and showcasing excellent sportsmanship and resilience. Het’s performance is a great reminder that perseverance and a positive attitude can lead to success, even after setbacks.

 

About the Cleveland Open

Organized by the Continental Chess Association (CCA), the Cleveland Open is one of Ohio’s most prominent chess tournaments, known for its classic time control and multi-day format. Now in its 18th year, the 2025 edition attracted over 190 players, including Grandmaster and International Masters from across the country.

We are proud of our CCL chess students for their outstanding efforts and accomplishments. The future of CCL chess is bright, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

 

US Chess Rating Report of Tournament

 

CCL Chess Students Shine on the Podium at SuperNationals VIII in Orlando, FL

The CCL Chess team delivered an impressive performance at the US Chess SuperNationals VIII, securing top honors across multiple sections. With a blend of hard work, discipline, and an unwavering passion for the game, our students showcased their talents on the national stage, earning well-deserved recognition.

We are proud to announce the achievements of our CCL Chess team members who claimed national championship medals and top rankings in this prestigious tournament:

K-1 Championship

  • 1st Place: Mehmet Yilanli (National Champion!)
  • 6th Place: Ryan Lai
  • 9th Place: Julian Cho

K-1 Under 500 & Unrated

  • 25th Place: Rishi Mettapally

K-3 Under 1000

  • 7th Place: Soham Gupta

K-6 Under 1000

  • 6th Place: Arjun Sai Kommineni

K-6 Under 1400

  • 20th Place: Henry James Wolfe

K-12 Under 1900

  • 20th Place: Het Patel

K-8 Championship Blitz Under 1200

  • 2nd Place: Akhilesh Sasikumar

K-6 Championship Blitz Under 1000

  • 3rd Place: Arjun Sai Kommineni

K-3 Championship Blitz

  • 7th Place: Mehmet Yilanli

Bughouse K-6

  • 6th Place: Mehmet Yilanli & Aadhi Adaikappan

Puzzle  K-6

  • 6th Place: Mehmet Yilanli

 

The SuperNationals VIII, held from May 9-11 in Orlando, Florida, brought together more than 4,600 players from across the nation. This event combined the three Spring National Scholastic Championships—Elementary, Middle, and High School—into one extraordinary tournament, held once every four years. After SuperNationals VII was canceled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first edition since SuperNationals VI in 2017, creating an even greater sense of anticipation.

The competition saw a diverse and talented pool of participants, with nearly 70 players from Ohio, including many from the CCL Chess School, representing their communities with pride. This event continues to inspire our students to reach for excellence, both on and off the chessboard. Congratulations to all our students, coaches, and the families for their remarkable achievements!

 

NEWSLETTER OF THE MOTCF

 

The Midwest Open Team Chess Festival (MOTCF) has once again lived up to its legendary status as Ohio’s most iconic chess event! For decades, MOTCF was not only a celebration of chess excellence but also a testament to the tournament’s role in building community. For many players, MOTCF is the one tournament they never miss—a time to honor friendships and the joy of playing side by side.

This year’s MOTCF was truly historic for not only did it see the largest turnout since 2000 with an incredible 132 players, but it also debuted its first ever junior division, welcoming more than 40 scholastic chess kids rated under 1200. And for the CCL community, it was a joyful reunion of coaches, students, and alumni from across the continents.

CCL made a big splash, fielding 12 teams, including three junior teams, making this our biggest showing ever! Representing the top tier of talent were IM Atanas Kizov from Europe, LM Walker Griggs, and WIM/FM Maggie Feng. We were also thrilled to welcome back Joe Kleban, a CCL graduate and current Georgetown University senior, who joined us during his spring break. Another star was Mehmet Yilanli, National Kindergarten Champion and the US Official Representative for the 2025 World Cadet Championship and World Cup (U8)!

After five intense rounds over two days, CCL teams rose to the top:

 

  • Team JAMS (Joseph Kleban, Shiv Srinivasan, Maxwell Chung, Arnav Kodkani) dominated the U2000 section!
  • Team E (Het Patel, Colin Park, Jack Hamilton, Vihaan Multani) took first place in the U1800 category!
  • Our talented juniors Rehaan Sivaraman, Hengrui Wang, Sai Viraj Salguti, and Max Yang brought home the Junior Team Championship!

 

In individual honors:

  • Mehmet Yilanli shined as the Top Youth Player, finishing with 4 points!
  • Aanya Parul Karthikeyan earned well-deserved recognition as the Top Female Player!

It was an unforgettable weekend full of passion, strategy, and community. Congratulations to all the players and teams! We can’t wait to reunite and make even more memories at MOTCF 2026!