Our formal dinner celebrated Sunil Weeramantry’s extraordinary contributions to chess education spanning nearly 50 years. The evening unfolded in three distinct segments:

Opening Tributes

NSCF Board President Zlata Gleason welcomed our distinguished guests, and gave the purpose for the evening: to honor Sunil’s legacy and ensure the work of his lifetime continues for generations to come. Executive Director Matan Prilleltensky acknowledged the many Grandmasters and chess dignitaries in attendance, as well as dedicated NSCF staff members. Matan shared how Sunil’s mentorship had elevated his teaching abilities and expressed the honor he feels leading the organization into its next chapter. National Master Asuka Nakamura and Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura offered personal insights into their journey as Sunil’s stepsons and his significant impact on their lives. The segment closed with a heartwarming slideshow featured images of Sunil as the aspiring chess student and player during his teen years in Switzerland followed by special moments from the Weeramantry-Nakamura family history.

Reflections on Influence

The second portion began with an illuminating video featuring NSCF board member Rick Trepp interviewing Sunil. Legendary chess educator Bruce Pandolfini then reflected on his five decades of friendship with Sunil, highlighting his successes as a coach and teacher. He commented that the NSCF’s teacher training programs have amplified Sunil’s influence from thousands of students to potentially millions. National Master John Jarecki, who holds the distinction of being Sunil’s very first student, shared cherished memories of their work together in the 1970s. David Kupersmith, recently appointed to the NSCF board, reminisced about his days in the early 1980s being coached by Sunil while playing on the Bronxville  chess team. Later, David was a student at Horace Mann when Sunil coached the team to a National JHS team championship. He noted how life has come full-circle as Sunil went on to  coach David’s son, Alex, who is now a student at Amherst. The segment concluded with Sunil expressing his gratitude and articulating how the NSCF’s community chess model can further expand the impact of scholastic chess.

Community Impact and Looking Forward

The final segment showcased the NSCF’s meaningful outreach through a video highlighting one community chess program. After commenting on the NSCF’s work in juvenile justice and with students with autism, Robert McLellan shared a success story from a chess mentoring initiative that has made a difference for at-risk youth. Officer Ken Manning from the Village of Port Chester Police Department delivered the evening’s closing remarks, explaining how his experience on the SWAT team handling high-stress situations informed his vision for using chess to help young people in vulnerable communities. By a remarkable coincidence, the chess program Officer Manning helped establish in Port Chester held its inaugural classes on the very day of our celebration.

In closing, Zlata returned to the podium to thank everyone for attending and their support. She let the audience know that the effort to raise money for the endowment would be on-going so that we can ensure that every child, regardless of circumstances, can access the life-changing benefits of chess education.

Support our mission by donating to the Sunil Weeramantry Legacy Fund.