2025 US Chess Awards Recipients

The US Chess Federation is pleased to announce the 2025 Annual Award recipients. Congratulations to all of these individuals and organizations who are advancing our mission to "empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess."

US Chess Awards Recipients from previous years can be viewed here: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020

 

Named Awards


Dan Heisman Award for Excellence in Chess Instruction

Koltanowski Awards

Frank J. Marshall Award

Organizer Awards


Chess City of the Year

Chess Club of the Year

Chess College of the Year

Organizer of the Year

Honorary Chess Mate 

Player Awards


GM of the Year

Outstanding Team Achievement

Woman Player of the Year

Young Player of the Year

Outstanding Player Achievement

College Coach of the Year 

Service Awards


Committee of the Year

Distinguished Service

Meritorious Service

Outstanding Career Achievement

Scholastic Service (Individual)

Scholastic Service (Organization)

Special Service

Special Friend of US Chess

TD Awards


Tournament Director of the Year

Tournament Director (Lifetime Achievement)

Tournament Director of the Year (Local)

Tournament Director of the Year (Senior)

 

 

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L. Thad Rogers

Distinguished Service Award 

L. Thad Rogers

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Rosen

Special Friend of US Chess 

Harris Rosen

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Outstanding Career Achievement Award 

Fred Gruenberg

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Suits

Outstanding Career Achievement Award 

Thad Suits

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Tom Doan

Outstanding Career Achievement Award 

Tom Doan

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Regan

Outstanding Career Achievement Award 

IM Kenneth W. Regan

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Fong

Meritorious Services Award 

Fun Fong

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Meritorious Services Award

Kasparov Chess Foundation

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Mark Indermaur (R)
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Mark Indermaur (R)

Meritorious Services Award

Mark Indermaur

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Doo
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Kimberly Doo (second from right)

Meritorious Services Award

Kimberly Doo McVay

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Swafford

Meritorious Services Award

Barbara Swafford

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Heck

Meritorious Services Award

Karl T. Heck

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Special Services Award 

Leo B. Dubler III

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Tarjan

Frank J. Marshall Award 

GM James Tarjan

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FEMchess

Organizer of the Year 

FEMchess

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Caruana

Grandmaster of the Year 

GM Fabiano Caruana

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Blocker

Outstanding Player Achievement Award 

IM Calvin Blocker

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Matera

Outstanding Player Achievement Award

IM Salvatore (Sal) J Matera

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Outstanding Player Achievement Award

IM Joseph Mark Bradford

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Podium
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Photo courtesy Maria Emelianova/FIDE

Outstanding Team Achievement Award 

2024 U.S. Olympiad Team

GM Michael Antipov, GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Wesley So, GM Leinier Dominguez, GM Levon Aronian, GM Ray Robson

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Outstanding Team Achievement Award

2024 U.S. Women's Olympiad Team

GM Melikset Khachiyan, GM Alexander Onischuk, IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, IM Alice Lee, GM Irina Krush, IM Carissa Yip, IM Anna Zatonskih

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FIDE
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Photo courtesy of FIDE

Outstanding Team Achievement Award

2025 USA 50+ Team 

IM Stuart Rachels, GM Gregory Kaidanov, GM Igor Novikov, GM Jaan Elvhest, GM Alexander Shabalov

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USA Women's 50+ Team
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Photo by Connor Belakovsky

Outstanding Team Achievement Award

2025 USA Women's 50+ Team

WFM Natalia Tsodikova, WIM Alexey Root, WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia, WFM Olga Sagalchik, WFM Ivona Jezierska

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Yip
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Photo courtesy of Lennart Ootes/SLCC

Woman Player of the Year Award 

IM/WGM Carissa Yip

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Hardaway
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Photo courtesy of SLCC

Young Player of the Year Award 

GM Brewington Hardaway

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LV

Chess City of the Year 

Las Vegas, Nevada

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Kuhns

Tournament Director Lifetime Achievement Award 

David Kuhns

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Wiewel

Tournament Director of the Year 

Jeff Wiewel

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Vigil
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Photo courtesy of Dr. Gretchen Vigil

Senior Tournament Director Award 

Eric Vigil

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Justin Gooch

Local Tournament Director Award 

Justin Gooch

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Hall

Chess Club of the Year (Large) 

Columbia Chess Club (Columbia, SC)

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Growth

Chess Club of the Year (Medium)

Growth Chess Club (Madison, WI)

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RIcc

Chess Club of the Year (Small)

Rhode Island Chess Club (Warwick, RI)

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UTRGV
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Photo courtesy of Matthew Cavazos

Chess College of the Year 

University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

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Macieja
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Photo courtesy of David Pike

College Coach of the Year 

GM Bartłomiej Macieja

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Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield

Koltanowski Award: Gold 

Rex & Jeanne Sinquefield

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JDRV

Koltanowski Award: Gold

John D. Rockefeller V

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David and Maureen Grimaud

Koltanowski Award: Silver

David & Maureen Grimaud

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Barbers

Koltanowski Award: Silver

Dewain & Susan Barber

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Green

Scholastic Service Award, Individual 

Amy Green

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MM

Scholastic Service Award, Individual

Michelle Martinez

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SK

Scholastic Service Award, Organization 

Silver Knights Chess Academy

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Jay Stallings

Dan Heisman Award for Excellence in Chess Instruction 

Jay Stallings

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Committee of the Year 

Clubs Committee

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Langland

Honorary Chess Mate 

Dana Langland

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McCrarys

Honorary Chess Mate

Dr. Kay McCrary

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