At only 14 years of age, Awonder Liang is breaking records left and right. He recently became the youngest American grandmaster in history, and he continues his impressive string of success that this year has brought him by winning the prestigious 2017 U.S. Junior Championship, netting him a highly coveted spot at the 2018 U.S. Championship, where he will play against the likes of Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Hikaru Nakamura and other top grandmasters for the maximum title in American chess.
Awonder is one of the Young Stars, who have had immense success this year.
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.
A full report on the tournament and on Awonder’s amazing victory, which was clinched only in the last round ahead of former Young Star member GM Kayden Troff, can be found here:
https://www.chess.com/news/view/defying-own-odds-liang-wins-u-s-junior-9086