She’s chairwoman of the (chess) board.
A Nease freshman captured the 2025 state women’s chess championship last month — and will now represent Florida in a national tournament, the St. Johns County School District announced last week.
Aarna Warekar, a freshman in Nease’s prestigious International Baccalaureate program, took the crown in the K-12 bracket.
“Aarna secured the title and will now proudly represent Florida as a delegate at the 13th Annual WIM Ruth Haring National Tournament of Girls State Champions this July in Middleton, Wisconsin,” the district revealed with pride.
In a Facebook post announcing Warekar’s triumph, St. Johns officials posted a picture of our local chess master alongside U.S. Chess Federation President Kevin Pryor.
“We can’t wait to see her shine on the national stage!” the district said.
Nease’s IB program has developed into a chess powerhouse.
Advait Nair, now a junior in the school in the program, secured the lofty title of National Master from the US Chess Federation last year.
