Richards chess team wins state title

Last weekend, the varsity chess team from Richards High School realized a long-sought dream by winning the Class AAA Illnois state championship.

Richards finished the tournament, which splits teams into six classes, with a 5-2 record (including a huge win over St. Ignatius College Prep of Chicago).

"Our players were relentless and gave their best," head coach and social studies teacher Manuel Montes said.

Individual highlights included Adrian Chavarria finishing with a perfect 7-0 record and placing second overall out of 240 players at 8th board. Andrew Gacek finished with a record of 6-1 and placed eighth overall out of 150 players in his division.

Teams finishing behind Richards in Class AAA included Fenwick, Hinsdale South, Lincoln-Way North, and Hoffman Estates. 

Richards has won 14 straight conference titles in chess.  For full details on the state performances, visit the Illinois Chess Coaches Association web site here:

http://theicca.wikispaces.com/IHSA+State+Chess+Team+Tournament