OUR STUDENT: ZACHARY RIVKIN

Zachary is an eighth-grade student at Horace Mann School. He has been in NYChessKids classes and camps since he was in kindergarten (when classes were held at the Manhattan Chess Club!). He is a student who truly loves the game: when lots of other students, at first considered "more talented" than he, stopped playing years ago, Zachary persevered and continued to improve.

One the nicest students in the history of NYChessKids (after all, he has been with us since nearly the beginning!), Zachary is very respectful to the teachers and an engaging student inside the classroom and out. He still works on his game, more difficult now since few students at his school play chess in his age-range. "When there's a will, there's a way." Zachary spars with his sister Gabrielle, who is also a consistently improving chessplayer in his rating range.

Right now, Zachary is preparing to play in the National K-12 Scholastic Championships in Orlando, in December. He is also planning to play in the Liberty Bell Open in January, an important "adult" tournament held every year.