Third-Grade Chess Player Invited to World Cup

A third-grade chess whiz at Rosa Parks Elementary, Magnolia Zhu, is invited to compete in the 2025 FIDE World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, this summer. Magnolia is the first Kentucky player to ever earn an invitation to this event and one of only six United States Chess Federation players her age to receive an invitation. 

“Magnolia recently participated in a training session in St. Louis for all of the U.S. delegates and is working incredibly hard to represent Rosa Parks in a world championship event. She is an amazing kid from an amazing family and is one of the hardest working players I’ve ever coached in my nearly 20 years of doing this,” said her chess coach, Alan Trimble. “She started beating me regularly as a second grader in practice and hasn’t looked back since. I actually have her play kids and coaches in practice while blindfolded to help keep her challenged,” he said, explaining how Magnolia holds the board in her mind and the opponent tells her the move they make out loud.  

Rosa Parks is also celebrating its 15th state chess championship in school history and its fifth overall K-1 title in the Kentucky Scholastic Chess Tournament. Bodhi Green led the K-1 squad going a perfect 5-0, Jiyul Park added 4 points, and Bindi Green and Lane Atkins chipped in 3 points apiece in the Louisville competition March 22. In addition, Rosa Parks’ K-5 team was runner-up in the championship round.