Jeffery on the cover of Chess Life

The FRANK P. SAMFORD, JR. CHESS FELLOWSHIP, marking its thirty first annual award, has selected Grandmaster Jeffery Xiong of Plano, Texas, as its 2017 Fellow. The Samford is the richest and most important chess fellowship in the United States having awarded over two million dollars the past three decades. It identifies and assists the best young American chess masters by providing top-level coaching, strong competition and access to study materials. The Fellowship also supplies a monthly stipend for living expenses so that the winners may devote themselves to chess without having financial worries. The total value of the Fellowship has been increased several times over the years and is now $42,000 annually. The prize is awarded for one year and can be renewed for a second year. The winners’ term begins July 1, 2017.

The entire staff of the Young Stars program congratulates him for being selected for such a prestigious award, and we are proud of him and wish him to excel to become the finest chess player in the United States and the world.

Jeffery Xiong is the top-rated player in the Young Stars program: The Young Stars – Team USA program has been sponsored by the Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) and the Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) since 2012. A group of young and promising chess players are assessed and evaluated by Garry Kasparov himself, along with KCF President and FIDE Senior Trainer Michael Khodarkovsky. These players are also individually trained by prominent grandmasters and famous coaches, including Alexander Chernin.

Jeffery in Tata Steel. Photo by Alina l’Ami.

It was also a good day for Jeffery in  Wijk aan Zee’s Tata Steel tournament, as he defeated tournament co-leader Gawain Jones and moves to only half a point behind the leaders.

You can read more about the announcement at uschess.org