Brooklyn, NY – When a sports team demonstrates that it’s the best of the best, once in a while it gets the ultimate honor: a meeting with the President of the United States.

The Edward R. Murrow High School national champion chess team is about to join that select group.  Next week, thanks to the efforts of Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn & Queens) and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), they’re going to meet President George W. Bush, at the White House.

            They deserve it. 

            In April, the chess team defeated all comers to win the 2004 National High School Chess Championship, held in Dallas.  To do so, they had to best 1,300 students, from over 150 schools.

            Weiner honored the team back in April. Both he and Senator Schumer appealed to the White House for a meeting with the team.  The good news from the White House came down today.

            “Brooklyn is proud of our chess champs,” said Rep. Weiner.  “Meeting the President is a reward they richly deserve.”

            This chess team was led by coach Eliot Weiss, as well as players Salvijus Bercys, the 2004 New York State High School chess champ, Dimitriy Minevich, Olga Novikova, Alex Lenderman, Ilya Kotlyanskiy, Oscar Santana, Will Edgard, and Nile Smith.

            The meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 15.