More than 800 students from over 70 Illinois middle schools took part Feb. 27 and 28 at the annual state chess finals organized by the Illinois Elementary School Association in Peoria.

In the seventh grade section, 2026 state champion is Shrini Senthilkumar from Evans Jr. High School, Bloomington, with eight wins in eight rounds, while Morrison Jr. High School student Cindy Pelka earned the silver medal for scoring seven points in eight rounds.