2017 U.S. Junior and U.S. Girls' Junior Champions Crowned in Saint Louis

SAINT LOUIS, July 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Two new junior chess champions have been crowned: 14-year-old International Master Awonder Liang from Madison, Wis. is the 2017 U.S. Junior Champion, while 15-year-old Woman International Master Akshita Gorti from Chantilly, Va. is the 2017 U.S. Girls' Junior Champion.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCCSCSL) hosted America's best and brightest young chess players in Saint Louis – the nation's Chess Capital – during the U.S. Junior Championship and, for the first time, the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship from July 8-17, 2017. Both events are the most prestigious chess championships in the country for junior players under the age of 21, providing an opportunity for chess' rising stars to compete in an elite tournament and environment. Liang and Gorti outlasted the competition in their respective 10-person fields, battling for nearly $31,000 in prizes, and more importantly, automatic invitations to the 2018 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship respectively, the nation's top invitational chess events.

Liang's legacy as one of the most impressive chess prodigies in recent history is firmly established. The Wisconsin teen holds a number of records, including youngest ever to defeat an International Master, youngest to defeat a Grandmaster, youngest American to achieve a master rating and youngest American to earn the International Master title. Liang's big win in Saint Louis marks his best finish at the 2017 U.S. Junior Championship after placing second in 2016.

"Winning the U.S. Junior Championship has long been a goal of mine," said Liang. "I came in wanting to win and finally doing so is a dream come true."

Gorti first entered the chess scene in March 2009 at the age of seven. Starting out with an initial rating of 400, Gorti quickly rose to the top, ending 2009 rated 1000 and 2010 at 1467. After earning titles of Woman International Master and FIDE Master in 2015, she was able to showcase her skills at the 2016 Women's Chess Championship at age 13. Gorti's victory at the 2017 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship is her first time placing in the tournament.

"I am so excited and honored to be this year's U.S. Girls' Junior champion," said Gorti. "I played some of my best chess during the tournament and it's very nice to see it pay off."

"It was a true honor to watch both Awonder and Akshita on the chessboard throughout this tournament," said Tony Rich, executive director of the CCSCSL. "Hats off to these young chess stars on incredible performances and well-deserved titles. We look forward to following the continued success of their careers and watching their influence on U.S. chess continue to grow."

Previous winners of the U.S. Junior Championship include GM Bobby Fischer, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Robert Hess, GM Ray Robson and GM Sam Shankland. The U.S. Girls' Junior Championship had one of the strongest fields in championship history, as it featured four young women who competed in the U.S. Women's Championship this past spring (WIM Emily Nguyen, WFM Carissa Yip, WCM Maggie Feng and WFM Apurva Virkud).

For more information, visit www.uschesschamps.com.

About The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.

Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.

SOURCE Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL)

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