Senior Alex Zhai tries to figure out his next move during the IHSA state chess tournament, which was held Friday and Saturday at the Peoria Civic Center. Uni placed 11th out of 118 teams. Zhai was one of three Uni players to finish in the top 10 on their respective boards. Zhai ended the tournament in 10th place on Board 2, while junior Gordon Ruan was seventh on Board 1 and Geoffrey Beck fourth on Board 3. Uni went 5-2 in the seven-round tournament. By Friday night, Uni was in second place after defeating Oak Forest, Buffalo Grove, Glenbard South, and Evanston Township in the first four rounds. But close losses to Cary-Grove and Hinsdale Central on Saturday dropped the team out of title contention.
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