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Monday, June 30, 2014
Kayden Troff is U.S. Junior Chess Champion 2014
Hello chess blog friends, Kayden Troff is the US Junior CHess Champion 2014! Brian Jerauld has a nice final report at the official website.
Kayden Troff defeated Matt Larson in the final round to win the 2014 U.S. Junior Closed Championship in Saint Louis. The 16-year-old talent obtained a clear first with an impressive 7/9 score, grabbing the national championship for players under 21 by finishing 1.5 points ahead of the field. For his efforts, Troff has won the top prize of $3,000, as well as an invitation to the 2015 U.S. Championship.
US Junior Chess Champion Kayden Troff (left) on his way to beating Matt Larson in the last round to win the title. Photo: Official website
“I’m really excited,” Troff said. “This moment has come and gone a few times, where I’ve been excited before and missed. I have just always seemed to struggle in this tournament specifically -- for it to be official and done, it’s a pretty good feeling.”
In his fourth appearance in the Junior Closed, Troff entered as the tournament’s top seed and only grandmaster, ultimately tallying six wins across the 10-player, round-robin event. That is twice the amount of victories Troff has recorded in preceding Junior Championships, his previous-best score coming last year at 4.5/9.
And despite the strong finish, Troff’s new title was anything but certain until the end -- especially after his fifth-round loss to FM Michael Bodek knocked him down into a tie for third place entering the rest day.
“My loss to Michael was a tough moment to get through; it just changed everything,” Troff said. “Everything was going quite well for me before that, and it was just this sudden shift of momentum. Trying to come back from that was probably my hardest moment.”
Troff apparently found zen on the rest day, however, returning to win out the rest of the tournament in convincing fashion. To get back to the top, Troff was forced to go right through it: Both his sixth- and seventh-round opponents, IMs Luke Harmon-Vellotti and Jeffrey Xiong, were tournament leaders at the time. And though a late surge by Bodek brought him within a half-point, Troff handled his own fate just fine by taking down FM Josh Colas and then the feisty NM Matt Larson in the final two rounds. Troff’s impressive score comes out of an extremely hard-fought Junior Closed Championship that featured 33 decisions across 45 games -- and most of the draws were bitter fights to the end.
“I think this tournament makes a good statement on where the U.S. is headed in chess,” Troff said. “All these good players who all play so well, I have so much respect for them. Even Matt Larson, even though he was the lowest-rated by quite a bit, showed his guns and brought it to this tournament.
2014 Saint Louis Chess Invitational: Final Recap Video
Hello chess friends, here's a lovely chess recap video by St Louis Chess Club on the 2014 Open Invitational hosted by the Club. The event offered norms and congratulations to GM Kayden Troff who surpassed the 2500 rating mark, to IM Sam Sevian on securing his second GM norm and to Seth Homa, who secured an IM norm! Enjoy the video.
US Junior Chess Championship 2013 Begins in St Louis
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
The 2013 U.S. Junior Closed Championship is the top tournament event in the United States for players aged 20 and younger. It will feature 10 of the country's strongest up-and-coming chess players, and it is scheduled to be held at the Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, from June 13th through June 23rd.
The U.S. Junior Closed Championship is exciting on a number of levels. Not only do spectators get the opportunity to see the nation's rising stars go head-to-head for the title, these young players also typically put on a fantastic show, playing swashbuckling chess that is full of aggressive attacks, wild swings, brilliancies, blunders and innovative play on both sides of the board.
With an invitation to the 2014 U.S. Championship on the line, these players come to Saint Louis ready to fight for a shot at the title.This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis will host the U.S. Junior Closed Championship. The format will be a standard 10-player round robin, and live play-by-play commentary will be presented each day by GMs Yasser Seirawan and Ben Finegold. Meet the Field No.TitleNameRating*Invitation Method 1. IM Daniel Naroditsky 2538 Rating 2. IM Victor Shen 2511 Rating 3. NM Robert Perez 2510 Rating 4. IM Kayden Troff 2505 Rating 5. FM Jeffrey Xiong 2483 Rating 6. FM Yian Liou 2469 Rating 7. FM Sam Sevian 2467 Rating 8. FM Atulya Shetty 2446 Wildcard 9. FM Luke Harmon-Vellotti 2434 Wildcard 10. WFM Sarah Chiang 2238 U.S. Open Invitation * Based on the April USCF ratings list. From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com Don't miss Chess Queen™ YouTube Channel
US Chess Championship 2013: Cool Interview with Kayden Troff
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
FIDE Master Mike Klein brings this exclusive interview to Chess.com live just before the start of Round 2 of the 2013 U.S. Chess Championship in St Louis! The interview is with rising star IM Kayden Troff about his chess secrets and more. Also watch this TLC Trio cool music video featuring the World Under-14 Chess Champion.
TLC Trio Chess Music Video with U-14 World Champion Kayden Troff
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
TLC Trio is made up of the colorful violins of Lauren and Connor Madsen and the lively piano of Tessa Young. Quickly capturing local attention at Salt Lake City Library’s 2010 Teen Concert Series, TLC is a unique blend of traditional sound and twenty-first century rhythm. Here is a super music video by them. The video features chess and reigning Under-14 World Chess Champion Kayden Troff of the United States. He is also the youngest IM in the US at present.
The human chess game seen in the video was modeled after a famous chess game played by Garry Kasparov and Veselin Topalov in 1999. It has come to be known as Kasparov's Immortal.
Nation's Chess Capital: U.S. House, Senate Recognize Saint Louis as 'the city'
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
(L-R) Irina Krush, Sarah Chiang, Jennifer Shahade, Yasser Seirawan, Sam Sevian and Kayden Troff attend a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 18, 2013 – Representatives William “Lacy” Clay (D-MO) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) and Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced resolutions in the U.S. House and Senate today recognizing Saint Louis as the Nation’s Chess Capital. The resolutions also recognized the success of chess after-school programs and the benefit for students, including fostering problem-solving skills, and improving math and reading test scores.
(L-R) Jonathon Cosby, Dannielle Henderson, Rep. William "Lacy" Clay (D-MO), Donnie Henderson and Cynthia Gill attend a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
“Saint Louis is definitely America’s Chess Capitol. I’m very proud to have the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis in my congressional district,” said Representative William “Lacy” Clay (D-MO). “I thank my Missouri congressional colleagues for joining me in introducing this bipartisan resolution.”
“Chess provides our young people with the kind of reasoning skills they need in an ever-complicated world, and I am proud to have the opportunity in Congress to support Saint Louis’ designation as our nation’s chess capital,” said Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO). “This resolution is also an opportunity to recognize the region’s ongoing commitment to the development of our young people’s minds and spirits.”
“Excellence in this game requires the combination of creativity and intellect—skills our Saint Louis students are most certainly known for,” said Senator Claire McCaskill. “Making Saint Louis the nation’s chess capital would rightly highlight our state’s commitment to strong education, and our nation’s brightest young minds.”
“Chess is a way to promote problem solving, critical thinking, and self-esteem, which are important to the development and education of our nation’s young minds,” Representative Blunt said. “I’m proud to recognize Saint Louis as the ‘National Chess Capital’ and to applaud the success of our local chess scholars. I’ll continue to support chess programs in our schools and community centers in Missouri and nationwide.”
The introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral resolutions were announced during a morning reception on Capitol Hill where GM Yasser Seirawan, IM Irina Krush, WGM Jennifer Shahade, IM Kayden Troff, IM-elect Sam Sevian and WFM Sarah Chiang gave chess lessons to Members of Congress and their staff.
Women's FIDE Master Sarah Chiang (L) shares chess tips with Rep. Anne Wagner during a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
“We appreciate the leadership of Representatives Clay and Luetkemeyer and Senators McCaskill and Blunt recognizing Saint Louis as the nation’s chess capital,” said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. “Their commitment to expanding the successful chess after-school programs is a tremendous example of how our nation can come together on a bipartisan basis to help our students.”
Woman Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade (R) shares chess tips with Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) during a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
International Master Kayden Troff (R) and Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) attend a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
Also in attendance were students who have benefited from chess after-school programs led by the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. These students played chess with Members of Congress and shared their personal stories of the educational benefits of chess. Saint Louis, Mo., will host the 2013 U.S. and Women’s Chess Championships May 2-13, 2013 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, the fifth consecutive year the nation’s top players have come to Missouri to compete in the national championship. - Report by Mile Wilmering for US Chess Federation.
Seven US Kids in Inaugural St Louis Chess Club-Kasparov Training Camp
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) is partnering with the Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) on a five-year grant program to help develop several American chess prodigies from across the United States. The program, called Young Stars - Team USA, will begin with a kick-off training program in Saint Louis at the CCSCSL from June 18-20. Program participants range in age from nine to 15 years old.
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12th Women's World Chess Champion
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