(CROSSVILLE, TN)National Master Kurt Schneider of Blue Bell, who will be a senior at Wissahickon High School, took home clear first and a first prize of $800 at the 4th annual Greater Philadelphia Junior Invitational Chess Championship held June 16-19 at Haverford College in Haverford, PA. Schneider, the highest rated scholastic player in Pennsylvania, scored 6½ points against seven other strong All-Star opponents and will have his name inscribed on the permanent Heisman-Shahade Trophy.

The other seven participants and their final scores were Chris Bechis (of Pennsbury HS and, in the fall, Univ. of Maryland Baltimore County) 4½, Rory Wasiolek (Devon Prep and Duke) 4, Dan Yeager (Keith Valley MS) 4, Tommy Hsiao (Allentown) 3, Mike Guber (Masterman and Wharton) 3, Rahul Swaminathan (Princeton Landing CC) 2, and Josh Bowman (Stony Creek MS) 1.

The strenth of this championship was shown by the excellence displayed by these players in other recent events. For example, Dan Yeager recently won the US Amateur East title, a national event open to all experts and below (non-masters). Rahul Swaminathan tied for 2nd in the K-5 section of the National Elementary Championship. Mike Guber is the 2005 Pennsylvania State High School Champion; Hsiao tied for second there – and none of these finished in the top two at Haverford!

Two special prizes were donated by International Master Igor Khmelnitsky of King of Prussia. They were $100 for most wins in a row (Schneider) and a copy of his book Chess Exam and Training Guide (Hsaio).

The Greater Philadelphia Junior Invitational Championship invites the top six rated players age 18 and under in the Philadelphia area, plus the Greater Philadelphia High School Champion and the top eligible junior at the Philadelphia Championship. Dr. John F. Bayle, the President of sponsor Main Line Chess Club http://www.mainlinechessclub.com, was the principal organizer and raised the $1,500 prize fund through private donations (note: the tournament is always looking for corporate sponsorship). Main Line Chess Club Vice President Dan Heisman was the tournament director. He was assisted by MLCC members Richard Pariseau, James Blakey, and Paul Petrillo. Special thanks go to host Haverford College and Haverford Professor Paul Jefferson for arranging for the facilities.

For more information, contact Dan Heisman, 610-649-0750.

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The United States Chess Federation, founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is now headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee. USCF is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization with more than 90,000 members. For additional on the USCF see: http://www.uschess.org.