HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3.2 - 2529 Chess Team and Player Recognition
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STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
DATE: April 2, 2019
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM:
Christopher L. Foss, City Manager
SUBJECT:
Recognition of the Fallon Middle School Chess Team and International
Master Christopher Yoo
Prepared by: Shari Jackman, Management Analyst II
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will recognize the Fallon Chess Team, named 2018 Middle School Co -
State Champions, along with Dublin resident Christopher Yoo, who recently became the
youngest International Chess Master at the age of 12.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Present Certificates of Recognition.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
DESCRIPTION:
At the 2018 CalChess Scholastic State Championships, the Fallon Middle School Chess
Team competed against over 1,200 of the best junior players in Northern California and
the Central Valley. The team had their best finish ever, being named the Co -State
Champions.
In chess, there are special titles awarded on the national level as well as the
international level based on your chess strength, which is determined by performances
in official tournaments.
On the national level, the most important title is National Master, which is awarded to
players who achieve a national chess rating of 2200, which is obtained by about 2
percent of tournament players nationally. Dublin resident Christopher Yoo became a
National Master in November 2016, and, in doing so, became the youngest National
Master in U.S. history at that time.
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At the international level, the major titles are Candidate Master (lowest title), FIDE
Master, International Master, and then Grandmaster (highest title). The vast majority of
players have no title at all.
On January 7, 2019, Christopher Yoo earned the title of "International Master” or “IM,”
and, in doing so, became the youngest IM in United States history at the age of 12
years, 0 months, and 19 days. Less than one -quarter of one percent of tournament
players worldwide earn this title. The only higher title in chess is Grandmaster, which is
Christopher’s next goal. He has until July to become the youngest Grandmaster in world
history (the record is 12 years and 7 months) and excellent chances of becoming the
youngest Grandmaster in American history (13 years and 10 months).
To earn the title of International Master, Christopher had to obtain an international chess
rating of 2400 and have very high-level performances in three separate matches against
already-titled players. In achieving his third and final IM “norm” at the Bay Area
International Chess Tournament earlier in January, Christopher also became the
youngest player in world history to defeat what is known as a “Super GM,” which is a
Grandmaster with a FIDE rating above 2700. He beat world #32 GM Le Quang Liem of
Vietnam, who is rated 2714.
In addition to earning the International Master title at a record age for an American, in
September 2018, Christopher became the youngest California State Champion in
history at the age of 11 years and 9 months, bettering the previous record holder, GM
Sam Shankland, the reigning U.S. Champion, by about five years.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
N/A
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
None.