South Cook News

Lemont caps outstanding season with program bests at IHSA Chess State Finals

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Head coach Ken Suslek’s team is a fixture in state finals competition, but his program reached new heights this season. Sparked by freshman triplets who occupy the top three slots in the line-up, Lemont placed 23rd at the 2022 IHSA Chess State Finals, which were contested at the Peoria Civic Center on February 11-12. Lemont has advanced to the IHSA State Finals 25 straight years, and has won multiple state finals contests each of those seasons.

Lemont won five state finals matches in one season for the first time in program history, knocking off Schaumburg (55.5-12.5), Riverside-Brookfield (68-0), Downers Grove South (51-17), Downers Grove North (39.5-28.5) and Hinsdale South (43.5-24.5). Lemont previously had won four state finals matches eight times, including 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Lemont, which has advanced to the state finals each season since 1998, also established a new program best with its 23rd-place finish. Among Class 3A schools, only Benet Academy (15th) placed better in the final standings. Lemont’s previous best finish in the team standings came in 2007, when it placed 40th.

Lemont never had a player post an undefeated record over seven state finals matches, but two players achieved that feat in 2022. Freshman Vikram Oberai totaled 6.5 points at Board 1, winning six matches and posting one draw. He was one of only seven players at Board 1 to record 6.5 points or more at this year’s state finals.  

Oberai’s siblings also shined in their state finals debuts. Anisha Oberai also went undefeated, collecting 5.5 points (four wins, three draws) at Board 3, while Adi Oberai earned 4.5 points (four wins, one draw) at Board 2. The Oberai siblings combined for 16.5 of a possible 21 points (14 wins, five draws) in their matches.

Lemont’s line-up includes two additional sets of siblings. Sophomore Rehan Saraiya earned 4.5 points (four wins, one draw) at Board 7, while senior Safin Saraiya totaled 4.0 points (three wins, two draws) at Board 4. Sophomores Owen Geraghty (4.0 points; four wins) and Ryan Geraghty (3.5 points; three wins, one draw) competed at Boards 6 and 8, respectively.  Senior Sunny Rana earned 2.5 points (two wins, one draw) at Board 5.

Lemont advanced to the state finals after winning two matches at the IHSA Glenbard East Sectional, topping Downers Grove South (50.5-17.5) and Lyons Township (52-16). Vikram and Adi Oberai each totaled 3.0 points.

Lemont dominated the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division, posting a 12-0 record and winning an astounding 803 of a possible 816 points in conference matches. Suslek’s teams are 103-5 in SSC Blue play over the last nine seasons. Adi Oberai, Anisha Oberai, Vikram Oberai and Safin Saraiya each earned All-SSC honors this season as Lemont capped the year with a 29-4 record in dual matches.

The IHSA eliminated individual awards beginning with the 2018-19 season. However, the program’s best individual finish came in 2003, when Tom Bondi ‘04 placed seventh at Board 7. Prior to Vikram Oberai, five players (Bondi in 2003; Andrew Knopinski ‘05 at Board 8 in 2003; Brandon Cotten ‘07 at Board 7 in 2005; Matt McDermott at Board 6 in 2007; and Jacob Ahlberg ‘21 at Board 8 in 2021) had won six state finals matches in one year.

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