Brooklyn’s Aleksandr Ostrovskiy, a sixth-grader at IS 234, was crowned national chess champion this week after besting 2,200 students at a tournament in Pittsburgh.
Although the Russian-born pawn-pusher is just 12, his win in the under-sixth-grade bracket was the latest in a handful of milestones.
“I was happy because I really wanted to win the tournament,” said Aleksandr, of Midwood, who learned the game from his father, Anatoliy, beginning at age 2.
In 2006, Aleksandr represented the United States in the Pan-American Games in Ecuador, and last year, he was awarded the silver medal at the North American Youth Chess Championship.
“It’s a very interesting game, and if you really have a good understanding of it, you can see some beautiful moves and games,” he said.
Brooklyn also shone in the team competition at this week’s tournament, with rising powerhouse IS 318 placing tops in the nation.