High Tech High School in Secaucus, New Jersey, has won the Esports Gaming Federation's national chess tournament for high schools and middle schools. The online competition, which spanned several months, concluded on January 11, 2026, with the team's victory over Denison High School from Texas. Led by 16-year-old captain Ali Issa, this marks the program's first national championship.
The Esports Gaming Federation (EGF) High School and Middle School National Chess Tournament kicked off on September 29, 2025, drawing 32 teams from across the United States for a multi-month online battle. High Tech High School, competing as the 'High Tech Laser Cats,' navigated a competitive field that included schools from states like Florida, Alabama, and New Jersey to reach the playoffs on December 19, 2025.
In the final matchup against Denison High School's 'DHS YJ-C' team, the game showcased grandmaster-level play. Both sides achieved 96% accuracy, with an average rating of 2,500. The contest unfolded with defensive maneuvers, piece trades, a knight sacrifice to expose the kingside, and a bishop sacrifice for diagonal dominance. As it entered time pressure, pawn exchanges led to a decisive clock advantage for High Tech, securing the win.
Captain Ali Issa, a junior at the school, was instrumental in the triumph. Starting chess with his father and honing skills since freshman year, Issa hit the 99.9th percentile on chess.com with a peak rating of 2,383—impressive, though below the 2,800 typical for grandmasters. His role extended beyond play, involving training teammates to rebuild after graduating top players from the prior year.
High Tech High School, a magnet public institution in the Hudson County Schools of Technology district, serves grades 9-12 at 1 High Tech Way in Secaucus. This victory, the first in the EGF series since the program's start, sets ambitions for more tournaments and personal rating gains ahead.
