Rachael Li, 9, Youngest Female US Chess Master Ever

Congratulations to Rachael Li of Texas, who has broken the 2200 barrier at just nine years old to become the youngest female US Chess Master in history. Rachael reflected on her precocious accomplishment with some wisdom for anyone trying to improve their game.

Learning may sometimes be boring, but you must have patience and grit to improve. Don't mind the obstacles that are in your way, once you get talented, they are like pieces of cheese getting shredded.

This is the win that pushed Rachael over master, from the 3rd Annual Winter Open, held at the North Texas Chess Academy.

[pgn]

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Li, Rachael"]
[Black "Steiner, Tim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2184"]
[BlackElo "2030"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2005.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. cxd4 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb5
Bd7 9. Nc3 dxe5 10. dxe5 g6 11. O-O Bg7 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Bf4 a6 14. Bd3 Bg4 15.
Rad1 Nd4 16. Qe3 Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 Bd7 18. Be4 e6 19. Bxb7 Ra7 20. Bc6 Qc7 21.
Bxd7 Nxd7 22. Rfe1 Rb7 23. Rd2 Rc8 24. Qd4 Rcb8 25. Qd6 Nb6 26. Red1 Bf8 27.
Qxc7 Rxc7 28. Rd8 Rcc8 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Ne4 h6 31. Be3 Rc6 32. Rd8 Kg7 33. Nf6
Nd5 34. Nxd5 exd5 35. Rxd5 g5 36. Bd4 Kg6 37. Bc3 Bc5 38. Kg2 Kf5 39. Rd8 h5
40. Rg8 Be7 41. Rg7 Ke6 42. Rh7 h4 43. Rh6+ Kd7 44. Rxc6 Kxc6 45. Kh3 Kd5 46.
Kg4 Ke6 47. h3 Bd8 48. Bd2 Kxe5 49. Bxg5 f5+ 50. Kxh4 Bb6 51. Kg3 Bd4 52. b3
Ke6 53. Be3 Be5+ 54. f4 Bf6 55. h4 Kd5 56. h5 Ke4 57. h6 Kd3 58. Bb6 Kc2 59.
Bc7 1-0

[/pgn]

Rachael turns 10 on January 6th, and is currently #3 in our top nine year old list.  The previous record  for youngest female master was held by IM elect Carissa Yip, set in 2015 when Carissa was 11. Rachael said that playing in the 2019 US Junior Girls Championship as a wildcard was a boost to her level and motivated her. Her next tournament is the 2019 Houston Open and Jean Troendle Memorial.