The Ladue School District is proud to celebrate Alex Zhang, a sophomore at Ladue Horton Watkins High School (LHWHS), who earned the bronze medal at the 35th Pan-American Youth Chess Festival, held July 27–August 3, 2025, in Lima, Peru.

The prestigious tournament brought together nearly 800 of the best young players from 25 federations across the Americas. Alex represented the United States as part of a delegation that brought home 14 medals across 12 sections, capturing the overall team gold medal.

Alex scored an impressive seven points out of nine games, tying for second place and securing the bronze medal on tiebreaks in the under-16 section. His outstanding performance also secured him the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Candidate Master (CM) title—an internationally recognized distinction that places him among the top youth players worldwide.

Alex’s chess journey began at the Spoede Elementary School chess club, where his passion for the game first took root. He continued to develop his skills at Ladue Middle School and now at LHWHS, competing in more than 200 tournaments along the way and earning the title of National Master.

This most recent accomplishment marks yet another milestone in Alex’s incredible journey—and the Ladue Schools community celebrates his continued success.