On February 11, 2024, while much of the world geared up for the Super Bowl, chess enthusiasts gathered into the South Jersey Innovation Center (SJIC) for the SJIC’s 11th annual Pre-Super Bowl chess tournament.
This year’s event stood out for several reasons, chief among them the presence of Abhimanyu Mishra, the youngest grandmaster in chess history. Alongside Mishra were esteemed players such as International Master Nikoloz Managadze, FIDE Master Dov Gorman, and former US Chess President Leroy Dubeck. Tariq Yue also attended, a 10-year-old prodigy boasting a rating of 2058.
The tournament commenced at 10:00 a.m., drawing in a total of 55 chess players. By the end of the tournament, five intense rounds of rated chess had taken place. It is no surprise Mishra dominated the Open Section. Notably, amidst the intense competition, Benjamin Lauer, along-time SJIC chess student, saw a 67 point climb in his rating and received the Candidate Master title.
A leading center for STEAM instruction (including math, creative design, and robotics), the SJIC offers superb instructional chess programs for both children and adults. The SJIC hosts official rated chess tournaments every other Sunday and rated rapid tournaments every Wednesday night.
