Hawthorne Scholastic Academy moves on to the CPS Championships after winning the Northside K-6 Intermediate Section!
We are thrilled to celebrate (again!) the outstanding success of the Hawthorne Scholastic Academy chess team, a brilliant example of what students can achieve through hard work and practice.
The team recently competed in the CPS Academic Chess’s 2026 CPS Northside Championship Tournament on February 28th, going head-to-head against CPS’s most talented. We are incredibly proud to announce that the Hawthorne Scholastic Academy chess team placed 1st among 16 teams in the highly competitive K-6 Intermediate section. Hawthorne beat out our friendly competitors, including Skinner North Elementary, Decatur, Alcott, Keller Gifted Magnet School, and Edison Regional Gifted Center. Not bad for Hawthorne’s first year placing in CPS!
HSA student Bota Narthasilpa scored 4.5/5, placing 2nd individually. Leyee Qian took 4th place, and Tate Walling,, Kaiyee Qian, and Ness Mehta all tied for 5th with Leeyee. Thus, Hawthorne’s total score of 16.5 points, a full point ahead of the competition (crazy!).
This remarkable accomplishment highlights the hard work, strategic thinking, and steady practice nurtured in the Nexplore/MM Chess program. Using the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills they’ve learned, these young competitors truly shone when it mattered most.
In recognition of their brilliant performance, the team won a well-deserved 1st Place Plaque! We sincerely hope they bring it to school to display and inspire the next generation of chess champions!
Now, we’re on to the championships on March 14th!
