ICA Warren Junior Chess Program
What is the Warren Program?
GM Mesgen Amanov analyzes games with ICA Warren ScholarsThe core mission of the Warren Junior Scholar Program is to nurture the highest-potential Illinois chess players so they can be competitive on a national and international stage. Players chosen for the Warren program have innate talent, and the intensive mentoring provided by the program gives them opportunity and reason to work hard. Through in-depth study and competition in chess, students acquire skills and habits that prepare them to succeed in many fields as adults, including high-level analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, discipline, perseverance, responsible decision-making and the ability to overcome setbacks and learn from mistakes.
The Warren Program was founded about 30 years ago by former ICA President Helen Warren, to provide funding for top-level youth chess players to help further develop their skills. In 2006, the program was brought under the auspices of the Illinois Chess Association under then President Bill Brock. Andrea Rosen has served as Warren Program Director since that time. In 2009, an advisory board of directors was established. Board members are Bill Brock, former ICA president; Chris Merli, former ICA president, and chess coach at University Lab High School, Urbana; Grandmaster Yury Shulman, former U.S. chess champion, director of the Yury Shulman International Chess School and founder of Chess Without Borders, Barrington; Mike Zacate, president of the Illinois High School Chess Coaches Association, and former ICA president.
2010 ICA Warren Junior Scholar Recipients Announced
Congratulations to 36 talented youth chess players across the state who were named as ICA 2010 Warren Junior Chess Scholars. The group of players includes 30 boys and 6 girls, ranging in age from 6 to 17. For nine of the students, this is the first time they’ve received the honor, which has been given annually since 2006. To qualify, the students needed to be among the top-ranked youth chess players for their age in the country.
Warren Scholars receive their awards at the 2010 K8 championshipMost of the eight high school students among this year’s Warren Scholars were present to receive special recognition for the honor at the awards ceremony of the Illinois high school team championships on February 13. The 28 elementary students will receive their awards at the state K8 championships that will be held in St. Charles the weekend of March 13-14. A letter is also being sent to each student’s school principal about this special achievement.
The ICA Warren Scholar program provides some funding for individual instruction, and arranges group instruction with high-level masters and grandmasters to further develop the players talents and help them be competitive on a national stage. All 2010 Warren Scholars have been invited to participate in a special group seminar on Sunday, February 28 with Grandmasters Dmitry Gurevich, Nikola Mitkov and Mesgen Amanov. The Warren Scholar program also sponsors two competitive invitational tournaments for the state’s top high school and top female players, and provides funding for the winners to travel to national competitions.
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Who Qualifies to be a Warren Junior Scholar?
To be chosen as a Warren Junior Scholar, students must have met the following criteria:
- Ranked by the United States Chess Federation (USCF) as among the top 35 chess players for their age group nationally at some point during the prior calendar year
- Ranked within the top 50 players for their age on the USCF list for the February of the current calendar year.
- Be a permanent resident of Illinois.
- List the USCF as their home chess federation.
Additionally, players age 10 and up must have played at least 10 regularly rated games (not quick-rated) in open tournaments or sections (as opposed to those limited to scholastic players) within the prior calendar year.
Students who miss the mark by 10 rating points or less are deemed qualified. Students who achieved ratings in games played through Feb. 1 of the current year that would have made them qualified had they been reflected in the supplement, are still deemed qualified. Girls may also qualify by being in the USCF top 50 list for girls under 13 or girls under 16 on at least one USCF list between June of the prior year and February of the current year.
Congratulations to the 2009 Warren Junior Scholars
Age 7 and under:
William Radak
Jack Xiao
Michael Rhodes
Matthew J. Stevens
Chetan Baddam Reddy
Vincent Do
Age 8:
James Wei
Alex Bian
George Li
Anshul Adve
Jack Curcio
Haoyang Yu
Age 9:
Conrad Oberhaus
Bryce McClanahan
Ian Gilchrist
Sonam Ford
Age 10:
Zachary Holecek
Age 11:
Gavin McClanahan
Age 12:
Sam Schmakel
Age 14:
Josh Dubin
Jason Chien
Age 15:
Eric Rosen
Michael Auger
Age 16:
Trevor Magness
Zach Kasiurak
Age 17:
Ilan Meerovich
Gordon Ruan
Gopal Menon
Age 18:
Tony Cao
James Pavese
Girls Under 13:
Penny Xu
Victoria Bian
Caeley Harihara
Girls Under 16:
Sonya Vohra
Adele Padgett