Succeeding Together: A Day with the State Championship-Winning EPHS Chess Team

It’s an unusually warm Friday afternoon in March, school has just let out for the weekend, and instead of rushing home, 10th grader Frederic Abrahams sits with his friends in the sunny South Commons at Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) playing chess.

“It’s my Friday highlight,” he says.

Frederic is one of more than a dozen students who are part of the EPHS Chess Club, and they’ve gathered for one final time this school year to play a casual inter-club tournament and celebrate their team’s recent win at the Minnesota State Scholastic Championship.

That victory felt pretty amazing: “It was awesome,” says Frederic.

The annual scholastic tournament is a chance for school chess teams to show their skills, competing against hundreds of other students for a trophy and the pride that comes with being named best in the state. Last year, EPHS took fourth place. So for 12th grader Banji Olofinboba, winning this year was particularly special. “It was exciting to finally be on top ourselves,” he says.

On this Friday, before the friendly tournament in the South Commons begins, a steady, confident voice breaks through the chatter. It’s Olu Olofinboba, Banji’s father, who helps coach and manage the club alongside his wife and Banji’s mother, Ifiok Olofinboba. Olu is holding the first-place trophy above his head, cheering on the team. 

Ifiok smiles. This is the kind of club she wanted for Banji. It’s why she stepped up to be the club’s advisor four years ago after the previous coach moved away. Ifiok, who spends her days serving much younger children as a paraprofessional at Prairie View Elementary School, is also a rock for the Chess Club despite not playing the game herself. She looks on fondly as the students play, arranging the snacks, tables and, on this particular day, the celebration cake. She’s in no rush to go home.

“We leave when they are ready to go,” she says of the students.

Ifiok has had at least one child, if not two, in Chess Club since before she became their advisor. Banji and his sister, 10th grader Bami, come from a family of chess. Their older brother Babatunde “Tunde” (‘22) played for the team, their father plays, and now, this Friday afternoon, Bami and Banji sit down to play together.

There is little sound where the siblings play, aside from the tap-tapping of game clocks and the clinks of game pieces. They’re both quiet, thoughtful, quick, but not hasty. Then another student walks by, silently assesses that one sibling is clearly losing, and the group breaks into laughter. Bami loves this game, and she can’t stop smiling when she talks about it.

“There are so many different things you can do and ways you can improve yourself,” she says of chess. She’s been playing since she was in kindergarten. At this year’s state championship, she placed in the top 25 for individuals.

It’s a talented team. 11th grader Troy Cavanah has been a U.S. National Master since 2021, and he took first place for individuals this year at state. In fact, chess talent is abundant across Eden Prairie Schools, with the youngest American woman to become an International Grandmaster, Alice Lee, currently in 10th grade in EP Online. She’s currently competing in the Women’s American Cup.

Troy’s obvious skill doesn’t separate him from the rest of the chess community at EPHS. Instead it brings them together. He loves teaching, and wants to help coach next year.

It’s the club’s sense of community that Surya Chennakesavula appreciates most. “It’s better than playing alone.” The 10th grader started playing with the team last year and says he’s learned to play more seriously. He also learned how to use a game clock. The Chess Club is the kind of environment that teaches, supports and encourages. It’s what Ifiok loves about the group, and what Olu gets from coaching, no matter the student’s skill or experience.

“I love seeing them grow,” he smiles.