Congratulations to Eric Sun '27 and William Han '27 on placing second in the 2025 Maryland State Scholastic Chess Championship, held in April at Hammond High School in Ellicott City. The tournament was hosted by Silver Knights Chess Academy, which was founded in 2006.

Sun started playing chess, mostly online, when the pandemic started in 2020. “I like the thinking aspect of chess,” he said. “You cannot just focus on the present; you must plan many moves ahead, and I think this is very applicable to life. When doing homework, you should not only focus on what is due the next day, but also other assignments/projects due later in the week/month.” With around 50 Over-the-Board (in person) tournaments under his belt, he has advice for aspiring chess players: “Play a lot whenever you can. Playing the game is the only way to get better.”

Han has also been playing chess for a few years. He appreciates how it “tests my patience especially with long games, and helps me concentrate.” For beginners, he recommends, as is the case with many activities, focusing on foundational skills in order to improve.