US Chess Wins Big at 2020 CJA Awards

US Chess writers, columnists, photographers, and videographers took home the lion’s share of awards presented by the Chess Journalists of America (CJA) for 2019-2020. Among the most important of these are two wins in the so-called “Top 3,” the three most prestigious awards given by the CJA.

Former US Chess Executive Director and current Chess Life columnist Al Lawrence took home top honors for his December 2019 cover story on “80 Years of US Chess.” This is far from the first win at the CJA for Lawrence, who has been named “Chess Journalist of the Year” three times, most recently in 2019. He also won this year for his “Faces Across the Board” column (honorable mention) and for “Best Historical Article.”

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Hartmann and Lawrence, Madison, 2018.

Following in Al’s footsteps is first-time “Chess Journalist of the Year” award winner John Hartmann. Hartmann, who has worked on CLO since February 2019 and was named Chess Life editor on June 1, 2020, also won in the “Best Review” and “Best Interview” (with Jacob Aagaard) categories. He was also a co-winner for “Best Historical Article” alongside Al Lawrence.

Asked for comment on this slate of victories, Hartmann said:

“Of course I’m thrilled to have been named the 2020 Chess Journalist of the Year, and it’s both humbling and wonderful to have my work validated in that way by my peers. It’s especially nice to ‘inherit the title’ from Al Lawrence, who has been so supportive of me and my writing through the years. Thanks to the CJA members and voters for their confidence in me!

Looking at our list of winners, I can’t help but notice the diversity of our winning authors, and I’m quite proud of the fact that we have so many young and first-time authors getting recognition for their fine work.

I’m actively searching out new talent for our print and online products, and I’d like US Chess to continue to be home for the best in chess writing and analysis for years to come.”

Here are all of the US Chess-affiliated award winners.

“Top 3”

Chess Journalist of the Year, Winner – John Hartmann

Best Story of the Year, Winner – Al Lawrence, “80 Years of US Chess” (December 2019)

Best Story of the Year, Honorable Mention – Jon Crumiller and GM Lev Alburt, “May I Have the Envelope Please?” (February 2020)

Best Column, Honorable Mention – Al Lawrence, “Faces Across the Board”

Print

Best Feature Article, Winner: Jon Crumiller and GM Lev Alburt, “May I Have the Envelope Please?” (February 2020)

Best National / International Tournament Report, Winner: Tatev Abrahamyan, “A Spectacular Finish” (October 2019)

Best Review, Winner: John Hartmann, “Lessons Learned” (December 2019)

Best Humorous Contribution, Winner: Menachem Wecker, “Did This Man Save the 1972 World Championship?” (January 2020)

Best Historical Article, co-winner: Al Lawrence, “80 Years of US Chess” (December 2019)

Best Historical Article, co-winner: John Hartmann, “Lost and Found” (May 2020)

Online

Best Overall Website, Winner: US Chess

Best Podcast, Winner: Jennifer Shahade, Ladies Knight

Best Podcast, Honorable Mention: Dan Lucas, One Move at a Time

Best Single Podcast Episode, Winner: Jennifer Shahade, Ladies Knight March 2020

Best News Website, Winner: Chess Life Online

Best Interview, Winner: John Hartmann / Jacob Aagaard, “GM Aagaard on the Candidates – Post-Postponement”

Best Tournament Report, Winner: Jacob Aagaard, “Aagaard on the Candidates”

Best State Tournament Report, Winner: John Watson, “The 2019 Denver Open”

Best Instruction, Winner: Robert Shlyakhtenko, “Shlyakhtenko on Winning at Dreaming King”

Best Analysis, Winner: Carissa Yip, “Yip Annotates Thrilling World Women’s Finale”

Best Humorous Contribution, Honorable Mention: Eric Vigil, “The Five Barber Bishop Brouhaha”

Best Personal Narrative, Winner: Michael Buss, “Time To Take Up Correspondence Chess?”

Best Non-Instructive Video, Winner: Jennifer Shahade and Jenny Schweitzer, “The Magic of Chess”

Best Twitter Feed, Winner: US Chess

Visual Arts

Photojournalism Article, Winner: Maria Emelianova, “Cote d’Ivoire through a Newcomer’s Lens” (August 2019)

Best Single Chess Photo, Winner: Myles Katherine Photography, “Jennifer Yu” (January 2020, cover)

Best Chess Art, Winner: James Oses, “Scholastics Nationals” (August 2019)

Best Single Magazine Cover, Winner: Francesca Butler (creative director) and Patrick Morales-Lee (artist), “Pal Benko” (November 2019)

Best Cartoon, Winner: Dan Lucas / Matt Sattel, “You Say Rad2, I Say R2-D2” (February 2020)

Junior

Best Online Article, Winner: Christopher Yoo, “Christopher Yoo Goes Online at Sunway Sitges”

Best Online Article, Honorable Mention: Jonathan Martinez, “Tuscon’s Carlos Botero Wins 2019 Amateur West Championship”

Best Personal Narrative, Winner: Carissa Yip, “Chess Adventures with WGM Carissa Yip”