For many junior high students at P.S/M.S. 279X, competing at the National Scholastic Chess Championships is one of the most exciting milestones in their chess journey. It’s a chance to test their skills against players from all over the country, travel to a new state, and represent their school and Chess in the Schools on a national stage. Even though the school year has just begun, our students are already hard at work preparing for Nationals, practicing new strategies, reviewing past games, and supporting each other as a team.

We sat down with Jake, Joseph, Matthew, Melissa, and Yareli to get a glimpse into their road to Nationals. From extra practice sessions to online study, the students shared what they’re focusing on, how they stay motivated, and what it means to compete at such a big tournament. They talked about teamwork, challenges, and the excitement of stepping onto a national stage, and gave us a peek into the personalities and determination that make the 279X chess team unique.

Getting Ready for Nationals

Q: How does it feel knowing you’ll be competing at Nationals this year?
Jake: I’m excited because Nationals is a big thing for chess players. Last year we had a nice hotel and free breakfast.
Joseph: It feels really good. I went last year and it was fun playing with my friends. Orlando was really nice, even though it rains a lot sometimes. You have to work for it — it’s not automatic.
Matthew: I don’t know if I’ll go, because I have to earn my ticket. But if I do, it will be great. Nationals were fun last year. We played games with each other, and sometimes we couldn’t sleep because of the excitement. I was the youngest who went — 4th grade.
Melissa: I feel excited, since we went last year. I had fun, and after the tournament we even got to go to Magic Kingdom!
Yareli: It makes me happy. My friends are going, and we get to experience it again. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.

Q: How does your team prepare for Nationals?
Joseph: We normally have chess on Tuesdays, but for Nationals we added Monday practice. There were no distractions, and Mr. Stovall kept reminding us to think ahead, even on opponents’ turns.
Melissa: We also added another practice day and extra club games so we could improve faster.
Jake: Yeah, normally it’s just Tuesdays, but we added Mondays for Nationals players too.

Q: What areas of your game are you focusing on right now?
Jake: I’m working on notating and figuring out strategies against D4.
Joseph: I’m focusing on openings because they affect the middle and endgame. I sometimes struggle with middle games because I can’t always find tactics.
Matthew: I’m working on playing against e4 and protecting my pieces.

Training and Strategy

Q: What’s a typical chess practice like for your team?
Joseph: We start with a lesson, then do puzzles based on it. Mr. Stovall makes sure we don’t always play the same person, so we learn from everyone.

Q: Do you do any special training outside of practice?
Jake: I play on Chess.com during school and in my free time.
Joseph: I watch Gotham Chess videos and have a gold membership on ChessKids.
Matthew: I watch chess videos to learn new strategies.
Melissa: We take lessons, then practice carefully, taking our time with each move.

Q: How do you prepare for playing against stronger opponents you’ve never met?
Jake: I try to figure out their strategy.
Yareli: I shake their hand and say good luck. I practice online and against my brothers — I have two brothers in chess club.

Q:What are some challenges you face during training, and how do you overcome them?
Joseph: Staying quiet and paying attention is hard for me. I overcome it by practicing and going to tournaments — that’s one of the main ways to improve.
Matthew: Some opponents were really hard and older, but I focus on having fun.
Melissa: Sometimes I rush to checkmate, but I try to take my time.
Yareli: It’s hard when I try moves I learned in practice, but I keep going.

Mental Preparation

Q: How do you prepare mentally for Nationals?
Jake: I watch chess videos and try to learn new strategies.
Matthew: I study games from my coaches and siblings who went to Nationals. Traveling to new places feels great.

Q: How does your instructor help you beyond just chess moves?
Jake: They teach us forks, batteries, and notation.
Matthew: Mr. Stovall helped with tactics and openings.

Q:What do you tell yourself before a big match to stay motivated?
Joseph: Keep going. Don’t give up. If you enjoy the game, keep playing. Eventually, you’ll earn a medal.

Q: What was the most memorable thing at Nationals?
Melissa: Meeting so many kids from different places. I even made friends in Atlanta and Hawaii!
Joseph: Last year, I met a kid in the hotel lobby who told me I need to attack to get what I want. I realized that applies to chess and life.

Teamwork and Motivation

Q: How does your team support each other while getting ready for Nationals?
Joseph: We’re all connected and we support each other. Chess is fun.
Melissa: My team wishes each other good luck during games, which really helps.

Q: What do you like most about practicing with your teammates?
Joseph: I like their personalities. I learn not just about chess, but how they react when they win or lose.

Q: What’s the best advice your instructor has given during prep?
Joseph: “Take your time.” If you rush, you’ll lose your pieces.

Q: How do you balance having fun and staying serious while training?
Melissa: I play against my friends, so it’s fun but still serious.

Looking Ahead

Q: What are your personal goals for Nationals this year?
Jake: I want to keep practicing and try some new strategies we learned.
Matthew: I want to win a medal or trophy. Seeing others win motivates me.
Melissa: My goal is to win all my games or get a trophy.
Joseph: I want to get more points than I did last year.

Q: What would it mean to you and your team to bring home a trophy?
Jake: It would mean a lot. Nationals is tough, and we’re going against players from all over the country.

Q: What was it like having a member of your family at Nationals?
Jake: My parents went with me. I felt safer and happy knowing they were there.
Yareli: My younger brother is on the chess team. It felt good. I wanted at least one of us to win, and Mr. Stovall was the best support.

Q: How are you feeling as the tournament gets closer?
Jake: It’s a bit stricter this year, but still fun.
Joseph: I feel like Saturday tournaments start to feel more important. They prepare me by letting me play against kids from Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Getting up early and practicing helps with discipline.
Matthew: I felt happy but nervous because it was my first time in Orlando.
Melissa: I feel like I improved last year, so I’m using everything I learned to prepare now.