Karamsetty scores 12-0 in chess simultaneous exhibition

U.S. Master Jeevan Karamsetty, an 11th-grader at Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology and the top-rated K-12 chess player in the state of Virginia, won all 12 of his games in a simultaneous exhibition held Saturday, May 31 at Wakefield High School.

His opponents included six of the top 10 players on the countywide Arlington scholastic chess team, namely, Sam Schenk, Munir Ben Jemaa, Daniel Bailey, Philip Suskin, Oliver Stuart, and Nathan Snyder.

Karamsetty also defeated his TJ high school coach, Dr. Peter Gabor, a math and computer science teacher and multiple winner of the Virginia chess coach of the year award.

All six Arlington team members, Gabor, and 4th-grader Geoffrey Davis and 2nd-grader Roland Foster (these latter two playing beyond their years) opened well and appeared equal going into the middle game.  In most of the middle games, however, Karamsetty picked up a pawn, usually in the middle, or set up irrefutable combination batteries aimed at the kingside.   

Then he was in no hurry.  Eschewing adventures he went into his boa constrictor mode, coolly and systematically expanding advantage.

Karamsetty, a resident of Ashburn, scored 20-0 in his first Arlington simul last May.  He has promised to return to Arlington next May for at least one more simul before he graduates from high school.   

List of simul participants:

 Daniel Bailey               6th, Saint Agnes School             
 Munir Ben Jemaa         7th, H-B Woodlawn
 Geoffrey Davis              4th, Louise Archer ES
 Roland Foster               2nd, Key ES
 Peter Gabor                  TJHSST faculty
 Lock Grigsby                1st, Georgetown Day School
 Baumdad Moussavi       4th, Drew ES
 Sam Schenk                 6th, Williamsburg Middle
 Dylan Schenker            1st, Georgetown Day School
 Nathan Snyder              7th, Williamsburg Middle
 Oliver Stuart                  5th, Key ES
 Philip Suskin                 7th, Swanson Middle