MISSION, TEXAS (April 4, 2025) – The Mims Elementary Chess Team is preparing for its biggest challenge yet as 14 students head to Super Nationals VIII, the largest scholastic chess tournament in the country. The event will take place May 9–11 in Orlando, Florida, bringing together thousands of top student players from across the nation.
This year, the Mims Chess Team has grown to include 26 students from kindergarten through 5th grade, marking an exciting period of development for the program. While the district does not yet require formal qualifications to attend nationals, the students' performance at the Elementary Regional Chess Tournament, held February 1–2 at De Leon Middle School in McAllen, demonstrated that they’re ready for the next level.
Regional Highlights:
- Kindergarten–1st Grade Team earned 2nd place overall, led by Rodrigo Salinas (2nd place), Henry Ly (3rd), Roman Salazar (9th), and Axel Narvaez.
- Primary Championship Team (2nd–3rd Grade) brought home a 3rd place team trophy, with standout performances from Ikzander Moreno (4th place), Aaron Pacheco, Erik Salinas, and Cesar Salinas.
- Elementary Championship and JV Teams (4th–5th Grade) both placed 8th overall, with strong finishes from Ruben Yzaguirre II (12th) and Jayden Varlack (16th).
These regional successes, combined with the students' dedication and growth, led to the decision for 14 students to compete at the national level.
Representing Mims Elementary and Mission CISD at Super Nationals VIII will be:
- K–1 Section: Arian Aguillon, Madison Garcia, Rodrigo Salinas, Henry Ly, Axel Narvaez
- Primary Section: Ikzander Moreno, Liam Salmeron
- Elementary Section: Ruben Yzaguirre II, Zander Cantu, Corey Ramirez, Ayden Hidrogo, Noah Garcia, Alexander Aguillon, Ian Solis
“I am incredibly proud of each and every one of our students,” said Daniella Alaniz, 5th Grade Bilingual Math Teacher and Chess Sponsor. “They’ve been putting in the work, staying after school for practices even after their tutoring sessions. Our parents have also been amazing in adjusting their busy schedules to ensure their children can attend practices. It’s been a fantastic season so far, and we’re not done yet!”
Super Nationals VIII is hosted by the US Chess Federation, the official governing body organization for chess in the United States. US Chess is dedicated to empowering individuals, enriching lives, and strengthening communities through the game of chess. US Chess represents the United States in the World Chess Federation (FIDE), connecting our members to chess players around the world.
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