Saturday, March 23, 2013
9-year-old boy named chess master

By Jen Roppel
Staff Writer 

DAYTON — A 9-year-old boy, just 17 days shy of his 10th birthday, is now a chess master.

Awonder Liang of Madison, Wis., earned the title Saturday while competing in the Midwest Open Team Chess Festival, said Riley Driver, sponsor of the event and owner of the Dayton Chess Club, 18 W. Fifth St., Dayton.

“He is now the youngest chess master in the United States,” Driver said.

Awonder said he’s been playing chess for almost five years, and that he thinks it is “a cool game.”

He earned the rank by achieving a United States Chess Federation rank of 2200, said Michael Schauer, tournament director.

This weekend, Awonder said he didn’t set out to reach master status.

“I just try to do my best and I tried to play for a win,” he said.

Attaining the rank of master is rare, especially for one so young, Schauer said.

“Some people study their whole life and never achieve it,” he said.

According to the USCF, the title is awarded for life.

The local chess tournament continues Sunday.

Source: http://www.daytondailynews.com

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