White Plains man snags national chess title
By Aman Ali • May 17, 2009
WHITE PLAINS – It’s not often someone can refer to himself as a grandmaster, but the title is fitting for two-time national chess champion Hikaru Nakamura.
The 21-year-old from White Plains racked up his second U.S. Chess Championship today in St. Louis in a tournament featuring the country’s top 24 chess players. In 2004, he won the same tournament at age 16 making him the youngest national champ since the famous chessmaster Bobby Fischer took the title at age 14 in 1957.
“I was very happy with my play throughout and relieved to have won the title again,” Nakamura said after securing the win. “Winning the second title feels better to me than the first.”
Nakamura picked up the crown after a quick takedown against grandmaster Josh Friedel of New Hampshire.
The St. Louis tournament took place from May 7 to today and Nakamura didn’t lose a single match. He walked away with the tournament’s cash prize of $40,000.
Here is the full article.
Well done Hikaru!