Once in a while, I receive an email worth sharing. This came from the parents of Jennifer Yu, the World Youth Girls Under 12 Gold Medalist:Hi Susan,

We want to share with you the good news (even though it is a bit late after the long travel back home from South Africa) that SPF alumni Jennifer Yu won gold in the Girls Under 12 section at the World Youth Chess Championship.

This was the first gold medal won by a US girl in 27 years and was also the only gold won by the 70-plus-membered US youth team at this World Youth.

She dominated the tournament by scoring 10 out of 11 games while the silver and bronze medalists from Russia and Belarus each scored 8. This gold medal ended a 27 years drought for US girls. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Youth_Chess_Championship).

Last time a US girl ever won gold in the World Youth was in 1987, with Yvonne Krawiec winning the girls under 12 section and Susan Urminska winning the girls under 10 section.

Jennifer and we want to say that you have played a major role in her growing up as a chess player. She reads your blog every day to absorb knowledge as well as inspiration. Your books helped sharpen her tactics and calculation skills. Thank you very much!

Attached are two pictures from the award ceremony.

Best Regards,
Yan and Zhiheng, Jennifer’s parents

I am very proud of what Jennifer accomplished. She dominated her section in the World Youth. This, and other success stories, make 11 years of hard work to run the first ever and most prestigious all-girls championship in the US, the annual SPF Girls Invitational, all worthwhile.

Jennifer is extremely talented, and if she keeps on working hard, there is no telling how far she can go. I will certainly be rooting for her all the way.

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