The 2025 Southern California SuperStates Championship was held by ICEA Chess for the first time at the historic Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, offering a grand and elegant setting befitting the largest SoCal state chess event of the year. The tournament drew a record-breaking 1,010 players more than 100 Schools/Clubs across all sections, marking a significant increase in participation compared to previous years and demonstrating the growing enthusiasm for scholastic and senior chess in the region.
Scholastic & Senior State Championships
A total of 220 scholastic players competed in the Championship Section, which was divided into five grade-based categories: K-12, K-8, K-5, K-3, and K-1 Championships. These top players faced off in six intense rounds over two days, vying not only for state titles but also for the honor of representing Southern California at the National Invitational Tournaments this summer in Wisconsin.
(Note: The K–1 and K–3 sections were not part of the national qualifier selection.)
The winners of the following sections earned invitations to prestigious national events:
- K-12 Champion → Denker Tournament of High School Champions
- K-8 Champion → Barber Tournament of Middle School Champions
- K-5 Champion → Rockefeller Tournament of Elementary School Champions
- Top Girl in K-12 → Haring National Girls Invitational Tournament
In parallel, the Senior (50+) State Championship brought together 31 seasoned players, who also competed in six rounds for the Irwin National Invitational spot. This was the first year the Senior Championship was integrated into SuperStates, playing side-by-side with the scholastic sections at the same prestigious venue—an exciting step toward uniting generations of California chess players.
Junior Varsity Sections
In addition to the Championship Sections, SuperStates also featured Junior Varsity Sections to expand chess opportunities for more school-aged students and encourage broader participation in this annual chess festival. The Junior Varsity Section welcomed 427 players and was divided into five sections based on grade level and rating. These sections were designed to provide a more accessible and supportive environment for developing players. Each JV section played five double-round games over the course of two days, fostering both competition and growth for emerging chess talent.
One-Day Events
The tournament also included two One-Day Scholastic Events, held on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Each day featured both rated and unrated sections, attracting 182 players on Saturday and 150 players on Sunday.
These one-day events were specially designed for newer players and those with limited weekend availability, offering a fun, low-pressure environment to gain tournament experience and enjoy the spirit of competitive chess.
Winners List
SoCal Representatives for National Invitationals
| National Invitational | SoCal Representative | Alternative |
| Denker High School State Champions | FM ISAAC WANG | FM SIHAN TAO |
| Haring Girls State Champions | NM ESTHER JOU | WCM AVERY YU |
| Barber Middle School State Champions | FM BENJAMIN BEN TANG | GLENN ZHANG |
| Rockefeller Elementary School State Champions | JACOB S WANG | BENJAMIN YU |
| Irwin Senior State Champions | GM MELIKSET KHACHIYAN | NM REYNALD DEL PILAR |
Senior State Champions
Senior (50+) State Champion
GM MELIKSET KHACHIYAN
Senior (65+) State Champion
FARROKH HAMEDANI
Scholastic Championship Winners
(Top 5 of each Section)
| Place | K-12 Champ | K-8 Champ | K-5 Champ | K-3 Champ | K-1 Champ |
| 1 | FM ISAAC WANG | FM BENJAMIN BEN TANG | JACOB S WANG | VIHAAN NELAKURTHY | JUSTIN PANG |
| 2 | FM SIHAN TAO | GLENN ZHANG | BENJAMIN YU | BRIAN YE | OJAS DAFTUAR |
| 3 | NM DAVID GASPARYAN | SABARISH KAILASAM | RYAN LU | RENAE CHEN | YINKAI JASPER ZHU |
| 4 | YANFENG GUO | MARC BRONSHTEIN | FRANCIS G ORDANZA | ETHAN LONG | SEVAK AKOPIAN |
| 5 | FM TOMMY WEN | NAIR AHSAN | BLAKE ZHANG | MATTHEW HAJO CHOE | ARJJUN RAMBHA |
ICEA Scholarship
To support these champions, as the organizer, ICEA is proud to offer a scholarship of up to $1,000 per representative to help cover travel expenses to the Nationals. This initiative aims to remove financial barriers and ensure our top players have the opportunity to compete on the national stage.
Thank You & See You Next Year
The 2025 SuperStates marked a milestone for Southern California chess—setting new records in participation and elevating the standard of excellence in competition, venue, and organization. The event brought together incredible talent and passion from players of all ages and experience levels, making it a true celebration of the chess community.
A heartfelt thank you to all the players, parents, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, and tournament staff whose dedication and support made this event possible.
We look forward to welcoming you back for an even more exciting SuperStates in 2026!
For full results, photos, and updates, please visit the official website: SuperStates.org
Selected Games
We’re excited to share a selection of games played by our champions, showcasing their outstanding performance and strategic brilliance throughout the tournament.