8th Grader Wins National Chess Title with Perfect Score

When you're so good at chess that your final opponent for a national title is your own teammate, you know something special is happening.

Bryan Enming Lin, an eighth grader from Hunter College Elementary and High School in New York, just claimed the 2026 National Middle School Chess Championship with a perfect 7-0 score in Round Rock, Texas. His final match was against his teammate Arabella Fang, who entered the last round as the only other player close to his record.

The unusual intra-team matchup on the tournament's top board signaled Hunter's complete dominance of the event. Lin's victory capped off a weekend where his school claimed the team championship by a commanding two-point margin.

For Lin, the win felt especially sweet after finishing second at last year's championship. This time, he never lost a single game across seven intense rounds of competition.

Fang didn't walk away empty-handed despite the final-round loss. Her 5.5 out of 7 score earned her a tie for fifth place overall, an impressive finish at the national level.

The Ripple Effect

The championship showcased the strength of New York's chess education programs. Beyond Hunter's team victory, four other New York schools claimed spots in the top five team finishes, including Success Academy Midtown West and the legendary IS 318.

Both Lin and Fang are graduating to high school competition next year, where they'll face an even tougher field of players. But if this performance shows anything, it's that they're more than ready for the challenge.

The tournament brought together hundreds of young chess players from across the country, with separate sections for different skill levels ensuring everyone had meaningful competition. Players in the Under-1700 and Under-1400 sections had their own champions crowned, with Texas and Washington state also celebrating victories.

US Chess continues to grow scholastic participation year after year, with national events now drawing record numbers of young competitors eager to test their skills and represent their schools.

Next up for many of these players is the National K-12 Grade Championships in Orlando this December, where Lin and Fang will begin their high school chess careers.