Panther Named 'National Youth Champion' in Bridge

Every great journey has a beginning. For Issaquah Middle School seventh grade student Arjun Chaunal, his bridge journey began close to home—with his grandfather, who first taught him how to play the game.
 
What started as a special connection between grandson and grandfather soon grew into a passion. Over the past three years, Arjun has dedicated himself to training in bridge, developing his skills in strategy, teamwork, concentration, and problem-solving. That journey has already taken him from learning the game with his grandfather to competing at the highest levels of youth bridge.
 
In 2025, Arjun was selected to represent Team USA at the World Youth Bridge Team Championships (WYBTC) in Italy, competing as part of the USA2 Under-16 (U16) team.
 
Arjun and his regular bridge partner, Kevin Wei, earned this opportunity after an impressive third-place finish in the USBF U16 national pairs competition, securing their qualification for the world championships. Representing the United States in an international competition is an extraordinary accomplishment—especially for a young student competing at the U16 level.
 
Arjun continued his success in July 2026 at the national tournament in Minneapolis, where he and his partner won the "Baron Barclay National Youth Open Pairs" title. The victory earned Arjun the distinction of National Youth Champion 2027, adding another impressive achievement to his growing bridge journey.

 

Above, Arjun playing bridge; below, with a trophy after a championship. 

Arjun’s journey shows how a simple introduction to something new can spark an extraordinary passion. His grandfather introduced him to bridge, sharing a game that would become much more than a hobby.  
 
Competitive bridge challenges players to think several steps ahead, communicate effectively with a partner, recognize patterns, make decisions under pressure, and continually adapt their strategy. Arjun’s accomplishments reflect not only his talent for the game, but also three years of dedicated training, persistence, teamwork, and a willingness to keep learning.
 
From learning bridge with his grandfather to competing on the world stage, Arjun’s story is an example of where curiosity, family inspiration, hard work, and a love of learning can lead.
 
Congratulations, Arjun! We are proud to celebrate your achievements and look forward to seeing where your bridge game takes you next!