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Press coverage, videos, and articles featuring I.S. 318's chess program.

Featured Story

The New York Times · April 20, 2026

A Day in the Life of New York City's Young Chess Stars

Children from New York schools are consistently winning national chess championships, and programs dedicated to teaching young people the game are booming.

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The Documentary

Brooklyn Castle

Brooklyn Castle tells the stories of five members of the chess team at a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the country. The film follows the challenges these kids face in their personal lives as well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it is about the anticipation of their victories.

Press Archive

The Marshall SpectatorArticle

Media

A Day in the Life of New York City's Young Chess Stars

Brooklyn Castle

Press Archive

Three Siblings, Three National Chess Titles

The New York School

Brooklyn Castle Facing New Challenges

What's Cool at School: Chess program at I.S. 318 in Williamsburg

Daring Origins: Justus Williams

Queens of Brooklyn: The NYC Girls Dominating Youth Chess

Rochelle Ballantyne, Covergirl

Time Odds Blitz Game at IS318

Justus Williams, a National Chess Master

Inner City Kids at Brooklyn School Dominate in Chess

Brooklyn Chess Star Battles Pressure Expectations

Benefits of Chess (Elizabeth Vicary)

From Brooklyn Castle to Ivory Tower: A Young Chess Master Celebrates Her Teachers

Looming City Budget Cuts Leave Famed Williamsburg Middle School Chess Team on the Chopping Block

Mini Masters: The Hard Up Brooklyn School Producing Chess Champions

Meet the Champs

Brooklyn School Masters Chess

A Chance at Success Through Chess

Cool Kids in School are the Chess Team

Katie Dellamaggiore & Pobo Efekoro

Chess RX for Schools

Chess Team Opens Doors for Brooklyn Students

Justus Williams Beats Magnus Carlsen

Chess Champions

What Makes a Good Teacher?

Excerpt from book, How Children Succeed

Middle School Chess Masters Capture National Title

GM Magnus Carlsen NM James Black

Mike Checks IS318 Chess Champs, Tells Them He's Really Impressed

IS318's Crowning Achievement

I Like to Attack

Proud Homecoming for Middle School Chess Champs

Williamsburg Middle School Wins National High School Chess Championship

At a Brooklyn School, the Cool Crowd Pushes the King Around

Middle School Chess Team Wins High School Championship

Justus Williams, LeBron James of Chess

Power Company Donates $25,000 to Needy IS318 Chess Team

James, The Chess Champ

New York City Public School Repeats and Repeats as National Champion

I.S. 318 Youngsters Dethrone New York Chess 'Kings'

A Notable Chess Journey for Talented New York Girls

Williamsburg Kids U.S. Chess Kings