PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Middle School chess team, coached by John DiGangi and Gregg Purdy, recently completed a remarkable 2023-2024 season and was recognized as the best team in Rhode Island by winning the Southeast New England Chess Association (SENECA) Chess league. 

Team members are Patrick Schlesinger, Charlie Billings, Dan Lu, and Gagan Deep Palya Maruthi, Caleb Thibeault, Olivia Purdy, Chace Bolduc, and Dominic Bolos. 

Other members who competed in various tournaments were Austin Vachon, Amelia Davis, Roman Twomney, Blaze Aubachon, Sam Whitehead, Gavin Varela, Liam Jones, and Evan DeMello.

The team has met twice a week since September and will continue to do so until the end of the academic year. Now in its second year, the team has grown in popularity and attracted some of the brightest chess minds at the school.

DiGangi and Purdy have hosted two tournaments at the middle school that were open to chess players of all ages and abilities throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Most recently, the chess team competed in a Blitz tournament at Wickford Middle School. Billings went undefeated in this fast-paced event, walking away with the first-place trophy. Schlesinger also played exceptionally well and finished in second place. 

It was at this Blitz tournament that the team was awarded the top prize for its win in the SENECA chess league.