The 18th annual Fullerton City Scholastic Chess Championship took place on May 9 at Ladera Vista Junior High, drawing an impressive 67 young chess enthusiasts. Sponsored by the Fullerton Host Lions and supported by the Fullerton School District, this year’s tournament focused exclusively on students in 8th grade and below, eschewing the “super-championship” format typically seen in past events.

Marisol Terrazas served as the tournament director, supported by Joy Tao, as they orchestrated the largest turnout in the event’s history. A total of eight grade-level tournaments were held, with some groups required to split into two sections to accommodate the rising number of participants. The section winners then competed for the title of “2025 Fullerton City Champion” within their respective grades.

Note: “2025 Fullerton City Champion” names are in bold text below.

Kindergarten

1. Oliver Magsaysay 
2. Phoenix Courthian 
3. Hurley Li

First Grade

1. Ayton Oei
2. Brendan Kim
3. Hudson Elwood

Second Grade -group 1

1. Olivia Leav
2. Ukrit Gupta
3. Liam No

Second Grade -group 2

1. Izykiel Park
2. Kaylie Yao
3. Coreline Esquival

Third Grade -group 1

1. Sophia Kim
2. Leo Struckhoff
3. Joshua Yee

Third Grade -group 2

1. Alexander Bays
2. Rayan Shah
3. Wyatt McLean

Fourth Grade -group 1

1. Wyatt Chen
2. Ian Seung
3. Leon Sohn

Fourth Grade -group 2

1. Yue Yao Tang
2. Owen Tse

Fifth Grade -group 1

1. Nihaal Battu
2. Lukas Cho

Fifth Grade -group 2

1. Nihaal Battu
2. Robert Kim

Sixth Grade

1. Jayden Baek
2. Kevin Tse
3. Ryo Cabrera 

Seventh Grade

1. Nathan Yoo
2. Colton Mears

Eighth Grade

1. Rayansh Shah

OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: 

• Kindergarten: Donovan Wong, Everet Payan, Hurley Li 
• First Grade: ArnikRain, Kevin Dias, Luther Struckhoff; 
• Second Grade: Dean Toledo, Ray Seung, Ryne Huber, Lincoln Struckhoff, Victor Cheen; 
• Third Grade:  Brayden Ahn, Danel Kim, Eliso Payan, Kaydann Lee, Rishi Iyer, Ryan Yu; 
• Fourth Grade: Benedict Shin, Ferris Chen, Hayout Lim; 
• Fifth Grade: Alden Lee, Eamon Pirraglia, Julien Park, Zack Lee; 
• Sixth Grade: Ethan Shih, James S. Ju; 
• Seventh Grade: David Kauo Barrera. Louis Orozco; 
• Eighth Grade: Aaruv Biyani

The championship not only showcased promising talent but also highlighted the support from the Fullerton School District, which effectively utilized the PeachJar system to help publicize the event. This collaborative effort ensured that more students had the opportunity to engage in the intellectually challenging and socially enriching game of chess.

The competition not only fostered a spirit of camaraderie among students but also celebrated the growth and dedication of the local chess community, setting high expectations for next year’s tournament.