2026 Chess Journalist of America Awards Announced

Writers, columnists, photographers and analysts from US Chess had much to celebrate at the annual Chess Journalists of America (CJA) meeting on August 6 in Grand Rapids. US Chess took home 23 awards, including two of the “big three” – FM Mike Klein won “Best Story of the Year” for his December 2025 obituary of GM Daniel Naroditsky, while GM Joel Benjamin was awarded the “Best Column” prize.

Here is the full list of awards won by US Chess. For complete results, visit the CJA website. Congratulations to all!

TOP AWARDS

Best Story of the Year, Winner

FM Mike Klein, “Danya” (Chess Life, December 2025)

Image

Best Column, Winner

GM Joel Benjamin, “Endgame School” (Chess Life)

PRINT

Best Feature Article, Winner

Jon Jacobs, "The Underdog Who Scraped the Sky" (Chess Life, June 2025)

Best Historical Article, Winner

Jon Jacobs, "The Underdog Who Scraped the Sky" (Chess Life, June 2025)

Best Local Interest, Winner

Irene Bantigue, "A Sporting Chance" (Chess Life, September 2025)

Best Analysis, Winner

Nikos Ntirlis, "The Slippery Steinitz" (Chess Life, February 2026)

Best Review, Honorable Mention

IM John Watson, "Good Thinking" (Chess Life, August 2025)

Best Tournament Report (National/International), Honorable Mention

WGM Jennifer Yu, "Doubled Over" (Chess Life, April 2026)

Image

Image Caption

Photo courtesy SLCC/Lennart Ootes.

Best Personal Narrative, Winner

IM Tatev Abrahamyan, "Fighting Back" (Chess Life, August 2025)

Best Tournament Report, State / Local, Co-Winner

Andrew Squitiro, "A Rail Good Time" (Chess Life, January 2026)

Best Instructive Lesson, Winner

Rick Massimo and Alexander Chernin, "Coaching Counts" (Chess Life, May 2026)

Best Humorous Contribution, Honorable Mention

Nathan Smith, "My Pandemic Gambit" (Chess Life, February 2026)

VISUAL ARTS

Best Cartoon, Winner

Navied Mahdavian, "The Scholar's Mate" (Chess Life, April 2026)

Image

Best Single Chess Magazine Cover, Winner

Natasha Roberts, “Chess on Broadway” (Chess Life, January 2026)

ONLINE

Best Feature Article, Honorable Mention

David Heiser, "Cops and Kids: Community Engagement Event with UFC"

Best Tournament Report (National), Winner

JJ Lang, "USA Ties for 6th at 2nd FIDE Olympiad for People with Disabilities"

Best Tournament Report (National), Honorable Mention

JJ Lang, "Memorial Day Weekend Wrap-Up"

Best Tournament Report (State/Local), Co-Winner

JJ Lang, "Nebraska Hall of Fame Tournament Celebrates Past, Present, and Future of Midwest Chess"

Best Podcast, Winner

WGM Sabina Foisor, "Class in Session"

Best Podcast, Honorable Mention

Bryan Tillis, "One Move at a Time"

Best Single Podcast Episode, Winner

WGM Sabina Foisor, "Class in Session: FM Alisa Melekhina, Part 1"

Best Single Podcast Episode, Honorable Mention

Bryan Tillis, "One Move at a Time: IM John Donaldson, Part 1"

JUNIOR

Best Online Article by a Junior, Winner

IM Max Lu, "Bearing Down in Brazil" (Chess Life, August 2025)