The US Chess Federation is pleased to announce the 2026 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: 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020
Named Awards
| Organizer Awards | Player Awards | Service Awards Outstanding Career Achievement Scholastic Service Individual (National | Local) | TD Awards
Tournament Director (Lifetime Achievement) |
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| Distinguished Service AwardCharles "Chuck" D. Unruh |
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| Distinguished Service AwardMike Hoffpauir |
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Photo courtesy Charlotte Chess Center.
| Outstanding Career Achievement AwardGM Daniel Naroditsky |
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| Meritorious Services AwardDavid T. Day |
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| Meritorious Services AwardJim (James D.) Hodina |
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| Special Services AwardJoshua Anderson |
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| Frank J. Marshall AwardGM Michael Rohde |
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Photo courtesy WikiMedia Commons.
| Frank J. Marshall AwardGM Dmitry Gurevich |
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| Organizer of the YearMaureen and David Grimaud |
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| Grandmaster of the YearGM Fabiano Caruana |
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| Outstanding Player Achievement AwardIM Mark Ginsburg |
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McCambridge (R) with Nick De Firmian
| Outstanding Player Achievement AwardIM Vince McCambridge |
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| Outstanding Player Achievement AwardIM Eugene B. Meyer |
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Photo courtesy of Bibu Mohanty.
| Outstanding Player Achievement AwardAlik Zilberberg |
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| Outstanding Team Achievement AwardColumbia Grammar and Preparatory School |
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| Outstanding Team Achievement AwardUS 50+ Team |
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| Outstanding Team Achievement AwardUS 50+ Women's Team |
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Photo courtesy SLCC/Lennart Ootes.
| Woman Player of the Year AwardIM Carissa Yip |
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Photo courtesy Lennart Ootes.
| Young Player of the Year AwardGM Andy Woodward |
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Photo courtesy Las Vegas International Chess Festival.
| Young Player of the Year AwardWGM Zoey Tang |
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| Young Player of the Year AwardIM-Elect Rose Atwell |
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Photo courtesy WikiMedia Commons.
| Chess City of the YearSpokane, WA |
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| Tournament Director Lifetime Achievement AwardBill Snead |
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| Tournament Director of the YearCharles Hatherill |
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| Arbiter of the YearBoyd Reed |
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| Senior Tournament Director AwardDavid Sye |
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| Local Tournament Director AwardJeff DiOrio |
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| Chess Club of the Year (Large)Marshall Chess Club |
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| Chess Club of the Year (Medium)Chaturanga Chess Club |
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| Chess Club of the Year (Small)Pawn Project |
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| Chess College of the YearSaint Louis University |
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| College Coach of the YearGM Varuzhan Akobian |
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| Koltanowski Award: GoldJohn D. Rockefeller V |
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| Koltanowski Award: GoldJohn Richard & Nancy Holly Zelonka |
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| Koltanowski Award: GoldDewain & Susan Barber |
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| Koltanowski Award: GoldRex & Jeanne Sinquefield |
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| Koltanowski Award: SilverThe Marc Haas Foundation |
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| Koltanowski Award: SilverDavid H. Raymond |
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| Scholastic Service Award, Individual NationalFM Mike Klein |
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| Scholastic Service Award, Individual LocalCatherine Martinez |
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| Scholastic Service Award, OrganizationSuccess Academy Charter Schools |
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Photo by John Bezina.
| Dan Heisman Award for Excellence in Chess InstructionFM Sunil Weeramantry |
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Photo by David Llada.
| Committee of the YearNational State Invitationals |
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| Committee of the YearRules |
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| Honorary Chess MateDr. Gretchen Vigil |
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