Daniel Naroditsky Wins Youth Chess Event

Daniel Naroditsky

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) crowned International Master Daniel Naroditsky, 17, of Foster City, Calif., the 2013 U.S. Junior Chess Champion.

The Junior Closed Championship is an invitation-only tournament that features the top chess players in the nation under the age of 21.

Alongside the U.S. Chess Championship and U.S. Women’s Championship, the Junior Closed Championship completes the “Triple Crown” of the three most prestigious chess tournaments in the country.

Naroditsky beat out nine other players in a round-robin tournament to clinch the title and the first-place prize of $3,000.

As the winner of the U.S. Junior Closed Championship, he also will receive an invitation to the 2014 U.S. Chess Championship, which is scheduled to be held in St. Louis next year.

“Daniel is an amazing example of the young chess talent there is in the U.S.,” said Tony Rich, executive director of the CCSCSL. “His passion for the game, and the sportsmanship demonstrated by all the participants, will hopefully encourage kids across the country to become more active with the game.”

Naroditsky edged out second-place finishers Sam Sevian, 12, of Santa Clara, Calif., and Luke Harmon-Vellotti, 14, of Boise, Idaho. Each of the second-place finishers received $1,750. The announcement was made Monday, June 24.

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a non-profit organization that is committed to making chess an important part of the community.