The United States Chess Federation - Lindsborg to Host U.S. Junior Closed and Cadet Championships

Lindsborg to Host U.S. Junior Closed and Cadet Championships

By Tom Brownscombe
June 4, 2008
Contact: Tom Brownscombe [email protected] 785-227-2224 Wes Fisk: [email protected] 785-227-4121 Lindsborg Mayor Judy Neuschafer reached her hand into a large trophy cup and drew chess pawns that would determine the pairings and opening colors for the players who will participate in the upcoming U.S. Junior Closed and Cadet tournaments (Photo Here). The Anatoly Karpov International School of Chess will host the U.S. Chess Federation’s most prestigious events for young players on June 13 – 18, in Lindsborg, Kansas. The top eight players under the age of 16 are invited each year to play in the U.S. Cadet Championship, and the top 10 players under age 20 are invited to play in the U.S. Junior Closed Championship. “We are excited to have players coming from throughout the United States,” said Tom Brownscombe, director of the Karpov Chess School. “These players are coming from California, New York, and many states in between.” Thirteen year-old Conrad Holt, Wichita, is the only Kansas participant. The Cadet and Junior players will compete in round robin tournaments for money, trophies and bragging rights in the weeklong tournament, but it is the Cadet Championship that will offer the biggest prize. The winner will receive a four-year scholarship to the University of Maryland at Baltimore, valued at $69,760.00. The player lineup in the Cadet Championship includes: Gregory Young, San Francisco, CA; Patrick Tae, Oak Ridge, TN; Darwin Yang, Plano, TX; Alex Markovits, Cincinnati, OH; Andrew Shvartsman, Medford, NJ; Richard Tuhrim, New York, NY; and Conrad Holt, Wichita, KS. The lineup in the Junior Championship includes Brian Goldstein, FL; Edward J. Lu, Annandale, VA; Daniel Yeager, Horsham, PA; Christopher Williams, Brighton, MA; Tyler B. Hughs, Wheat Ridge, CO; and Zhi-ya Hu, Potomac, MD. Additional players have yet to commit. Marck R. Cobb, president of the International Chess Institute of the Midwest, who operates the Karpov Chess School said,” We are happy to work with the US Chess Federation in recognizing the highly qualified chess players who have been invited to compete in the Jr. Closed and the Cadet Championships.” Cobb went on to note that it has been four years since the Junior Championships were held in Lindsborg. Usually, these championships are held in larger cities. The Cadet and Junior Championships will precede the U.S. Junior Open, which will be held on July 25-27, at Lindsborg. “ We are confident that the community of Lindsborg, the surrounding area, and the State of Kansas will provide an atmosphere of hospitality that will make this unique chess experience a memorable event for all participants and their supporters,” said Cobb. Funding for these events comes from the U.S. Chess Federation, the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Karpov Chess School. Spectators are welcome! For more information, please visit www.anatolykarpovchessschool.org or e-mail [email protected] , phone (785) 227-2224.