Whiz Kid: Austin Kuntz Age: 12 Grade: 7 School: St. James Accomplishment: Although he is a veteran chess player, Austin earned his first 1st-place trophy at the Kings and Queens Chess Challenge May 7 at the Pittsburgh Irish Center in Squirrel Hill.  Playing in the advanced beginner division against 15 other players, Austin won all four matches, which gave him a perfect score of 4 points.  This tournament increased his USCF chess rating from 547 to 729. This victory has been a long time coming for Kuntz, who learned how to play chess at age 4.  He joined the chess team last year but has had a leg up since he has been practicing for years at home with his brothers and father. He was the only one from his school to compete in the Kings and Queens Chess Challenge and has competed in more tournaments than he can remember. Kuntz is still on a high from his win and plans to keep playing and improving his game. "I am definitely going to keep playing and practicing even more with my brothers," he said.  "It felt good to finally win a tournament and get a big trophy."

Whiz Kid: Austin Kuntz

Age: 12 Grade: 7

School: St. James Accomplishment: Although he is a veteran chess player, Austin earned his first 1st-place trophy at the Kings and Queens Chess Challenge May 7 at the Pittsburgh Irish Center in Squirrel Hill.

Playing in the advanced beginner division against 15 other players, Austin won all four matches, which gave him a perfect score of 4 points.  This tournament increased his USCF chess rating from 547 to 729. This victory has been a long time coming for Kuntz, who learned how to play chess at age 4.  He joined the chess team last year but has had a leg up since he has been practicing for years at home with his brothers and father.

He was the only one from his school to compete in the Kings and Queens Chess Challenge and has competed in more tournaments than he can remember. Kuntz is still on a high from his win and plans to keep playing and improving his game.

“I am definitely going to keep playing and practicing even more with my brothers,” he said.  “It felt good to finally win a tournament and get a big trophy.”

Allegheny County

PA Patch Team

Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area

Sewickley

Pennsylvania

St. James seventh-grader captures first place at the Kings and Queens Chess Challenge.