Many CCL students continue to pursue chess actively during their college years. Life Master Walker Griggs helped his college organize the PanAm Intercollegiate Chess Championship, a premier league for U.S. college players. FIDE Master Aristo Liu led his Columbia University chess club and hosted the Ivy League Chess Invitational, while Sneha Prabu and Emma Cheng made their team to the Best Mixed Team Award at the 2025 PanAm Intercollegiate Championship. FIDE Master Christopher Shen captained his Harvard team for four consecutive years at the PanAm Intercollegiate Championship, finishing 7th overall in 2026, and also earned top honors representing the U.S. Air Force, including the 2024 U.S. Military Championship and 3rd place at NATO 2025.

Aryan Balyan, CCL’s newest national master, has maintained his chess passion throughout college. He led his school team to the national title in the 2025 PanAm Intercollegiate Championship (U1800 category) and competed in local tournaments in Spain before returning to the U.S., where he earned his national master title in 2025. Recently, he demonstrated his continued growth in Indiana, winning his first State Blitz Championship in early March and tying for second place at the Indiana Chess Congress, just half a point behind top grandmaster Semen Khanin and alongside Italian grandmaster Lorenzo Lodici.

Aryan’s journey reflects the enduring impact of dedication, discipline, and a love for the game. His achievements inspire not only fellow CCL students but all young chess enthusiasts to pursue their ambitions relentlessly, showing that growth and excellence in chess—and in life—can continue well beyond school years.