Event Overview

Joe Kleban Ties for First Place at the 2026 Joe Yun Memorial

Congratulations to CCL graduate Joe Kleban, who scored an impressive 4 out of 5 in the U2200 section at the 2026 Joe Yun Memorial. Joe defeated National Master Deshawn Kelley in Round 2 and drew with Chloe Wang in Round 4. He finished tied for first place with Chloe, and each received a $750 cash prize.

CCL Members Compete at Charlotte’s Elite Chess Festival

Several CCL members traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, to compete in the Naroditsky Memorial, playing in the Challengers sections of the memorial rapid and blitz tournaments honoring the life, legacy, and impact of Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky. CCL participants included NM Aryan Balyan, Mehmet Yilanli, Shashank Palla, Roopali Palla, and Arjun Sai Kommineni.

Mehmet Yilanli Reaches a New Peak Rating of 2114

The nation’s top-ranked 8-year-old player, Mehmet Yilanli, continues his remarkable progress. At the G60 July Swiss in Columbus, Mehmet achieved a new peak US Chess rating of 2114. Following this outstanding performance, he will represent both CCL and Ohio at the Ashley Tournament of K–3 Champions during the U.S. Open.

New Students Shine at Local Scholastic Tournament

Several of CCL’s newest students delivered outstanding performances at recent local summer scholastic tournaments.

• Vihaan Singharia earned second place in the U900 section and came within reach of an 800 rating.
• Vihan Talak, Shivansh Obbu, and Rachel Li tied for first place in the U600 section. Each achieved a new peak rating and is ready to move up to the U900 section in the next tournament.
• Tyson Yu, Siddharth Santhoshkumar, and Ethan Kim finished as the top three players in the U300 section, successfully completing the first rated tournament of their chess journeys.

This summer also marked the return of two familiar faces to the Columbus chess community. Albert Jiang and Brian Jiang, former CCL students who came back to Columbus during their summer vacation, rejoined CCL for local tournaments. Brian captured first place in the Beginner’s U900 section, while Albert claimed the top prize in his section at the G60 Swiss. Their return highlights the lasting relationships that CCL Chess School builds with its students and alumni, whose connection to the CCL community continues long after they move away.

Congratulations to all of our young players on their hard work,  dedication, and continued improvement!

CCL Chess Expands Community Outreach

In addition to providing professional chess training for more than a decade, CCL Chess School continues to expand its support for the local community. Through a partnership with a local youth STEM academy, CCL hosted four summer chess camps in Dublin, Powell, and Lewis Center. These camps provided a fun, engaging, and supportive environment where young students developed critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills through chess.

Learning Through Puzzles and Playing with Masters

This summer, CCL Masters FM Christopher Shen and NM Aryan Balyan, both recent college graduates, organized a special community chess event for CCL students and local players. Participants sharpened their tactical skills by solving instructive chess puzzles before taking on the masters in an exciting 30-board simultaneous exhibition. The event offered students a memorable opportunity to learn directly from experienced players while enjoying an afternoon of challenging and inspiring chess.

The inaugural IM Goran Vojinovic Memorial Open was far more than a chess tournament—it was a celebration of a remarkable coach, a thriving community, and the enduring impact one person can have on generations of students.

From 2011 to 2016, IM Goran Vojinovic devoted himself to coaching at CCL. Known for his warmth, patience, and deep passion for teaching, Goran inspired countless young players to pursue excellence. Many of those students went on to achieve success not only in chess but also in academics and their professional careers. His influence continues to be felt throughout the CCL community, making this inaugural memorial event a fitting tribute to a beloved mentor and friend.

Former CCL students and their parents traveled back to reconnect with old friends, share stories, and honor the memory of a coach who helped shape their lives both on and off the chessboard.

Over three days and five rounds of competition, 82 players, including seven titled masters, gathered to compete in one of the strongest and most meaningful events in CCL history. When the final round concluded, top seed IM Edward Song of Michigan emerged as the clear champion, taking home the $1,600 first prize with an impressive performance against a strong field. CCL students also distinguished themselves throughout the event. Congratulations to John Hughes, Abhi Ramaswamy, Soham Purkar, and Hengrui Wang, who each earned prizes in their respective sections and proudly represented the CCL tradition of excellence.

One of the most memorable moments of the weekend belonged to Ashwin Iranian Prabhu Kumar, whose performance earned him the coveted US Chess National Master title. Achieving a lifelong chess milestone at the inaugural memorial event made the occasion even more historic and inspiring.

As the final games ended, the tournament’s true success became clear. The inaugural IM Goran Vojinovic Memorial Open brought together past and present generations of the CCL family, united by friendship, gratitude, and a shared love of chess. It was a weekend filled with competition, memories, and celebration, a fitting tribute to a coach whose legacy continues to inspire.

The pieces may have been packed away at the end of the tournament, but the spirit of Goran Vojinovic lives on in every student he taught, every family he encouraged, and every member of the community he helped build. The first IM Goran Vojinovic Memorial Open was not only a tournament—it was a testament to a life well lived and a legacy that will endure for years to come.

CCL is proud to celebrate another outstanding international achievement by Mehmet Yilanli at the 2026 FIDE World Cadet Cup!

Competing in the Under-10 Open section, Mehmet finished with an impressive 8 points out of 11 rounds, missing the opportunity to compete for a medal by just half a point. Since he is a full year younger than most of the players in his age group, this remarkable result highlights both his exceptional talent and tremendous potential. He will return to the same section next year with even greater experience and confidence.

Entering the tournament with a modest 1772 FIDE rating, Mehmet was seeded only 52nd despite already being a two-time U.S. National Champion. He dramatically outperformed his seed, finishing 8th place on tiebreaks, achieving an outstanding 2115 performance rating and gaining 182 FIDE rating points.

Congratulations to Mehmet on representing CCL Chess School and the United States with distinction on the world stage! We are incredibly proud of his performance and look forward to watching him continue his remarkable journey.

Read More: Before departing for the 2026 FIDE World Cadet Cup, Mehmet was featured in an interview on Good Day Columbus, where he shared his excitement and goals for the tournament. Watch the interview by clicking this link

(Picture Credits: Event Official Website, US Chess Website)

CCL students once again delivered outstanding performances at the Cleveland Open this past weekend, continuing a decade-long tradition of excellence at one of the club’s most successful tournaments.

Het Patel captured clear first place in the U2100 section, earning the championship title and a $1,000 prize. Colin Park also turned in an impressive performance, tying for 2nd through 4th place and taking home $400. Year after year, CCL students have achieved remarkable success at the Cleveland Open, making the event a true “wonderland” for our players.

We also celebrate several of our newest students as they begin making their mark in competitive chess:

• Vedaant Singharia competed in his first local scholastic tournament and earned an initial US Chess rating of 687.
• Mustafa Yilanli, younger brother of Mehmet, tied for the first-place trophy in the U600 section of the same event, reaching a new peak rating of 715.
• Samvedh Dasari finished in third place in the U600 section and achieved a new peak rating of 574.
• Vihan Talak scored 3 out of 5 points, raising his rating to a personal-best 587.
• Shreyan Sai Kammari earned a new peak rating of 739 at the Spring Open in early May.

Many young players have been getting professional training in chess for only about six months, yet they are already demonstrating tremendous potential, competitive spirit, and a strong determination to succeed. Their early accomplishments are exciting signs of even greater achievements to come. Congratulations to all of our players on their hard work, dedication, and continued growth!