Bryce Tiglon, a third grader at the Lake Washington School District’s Wilder Elementary in Woodinville, recently went to the 2010 Burt Lerner Elementary Chess Nationals in Atlanta with his brothers and came home a national champion. After winning all 12 of his speed chess games, Bryce was the only undefeated player in the K-3 Blitz Tournament. He first earned a national title at the 2009 U.S. Junior Scholastic Open in Milwaukee last summer and he is pleased to remain the National K-3 Blitz Champion.

Bryce’s brother Jeffrey, a first grader at Wilder, also participated in the National K-3 Blitz Tournament and won six of his games. The two boys’ combined points earned Wilder the fourth place team trophy, which stands over three feet tall.

In the main event at Nationals, all three Tiglon boys had a good showing. Bryce won 6 out of 7 games and tied for second place in the K-3 Open division. Jeffrey won 5 out of 7 games and tied for 25th place in the K-1 division. Mitchel came in 71st in the K-5 Under 900 Division with 4 1/2 wins.

Earlier this spring, Bryce was a co-champion in the third grade division at the Washington State Elementary Chess Championship where he won all five of his games. With a chess rating of 1629, Bryce was the second highest rated third grader in Washington back in March. As a result, he was asked to represent Washington in the Washington vs. British Columbia chess match held in Canada. Bryce won both of his games and the Americans won the match.