Evan Ju

FM Evan Ju
Evan Ju teaching kids at a local New Jersey school.
Evan Ju (foreground, left) in 2007
Full name Evan David Ju
Country  United States
Born June 1991 (age 24)
Title FIDE Master (2008)
Peak rating 2316 (APR 2009)

Evan David Ju (born June 1991) is a former American chess prodigy from New Jersey. At the age of 15, Ju became the youngest ever New Jersey state chess champion and the first to hold both the NJ Junior and NJ Open titles.[1] He currently holds the title of FIDE Master.[2]

Early career

Ju started playing chess at the age of 5 and quickly demonstrated his talent from a young age. He won the fourth grade US National Championship in 2000 and the fifth grade US National Championship in 2001.[3] He was elected as a member of the All America Chess Team for the years 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.[4] Ju was ranked in the top 3 of his age group in the United States from April 2002 to February 2008.[5][6] Ju made his debut on the international chess scene when he represented the United States in the 2003 World Youth Chess Championship.[7] He subsequently represented the United States in the 2004 and 2005 World Youth Chess Championships. Ju achieved the USCF National Master title in 2005, becoming the youngest chess master in New Jersey at the time.[8] In 2006, Ju placed 2nd in the National Junior High Championship.[8] Later that year, Ju won the New Jersey Junior Chess Championship, qualifying him for the Denker Tournament of High School Champions, in which he placed 3rd.[9][10] Ju finished off the year by winning the 60th New Jersey Open Championship shortly after his 15th birthday. In doing so, he surpassed Tyler Cowen’s record of becoming the youngest ever New Jersey state chess champion.[11][12] In 2007, Ju won the prestigious U.S. Cadet Championship and a four-year scholarship to UMBC.[13]

Other

Ju was coached by Grandmaster Boris Gulko and Grandmaster Joel Benjamin.[14] GM Joel Benjamin described Ju as a, “dangerous attacking player”.[15] Ju played for the New Jersey Knockouts in the United States Chess League in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.[16] Ju received his FIDE Master title in 2008.[2] He graduated from the Peck School in 2005 and Pingry High School in 2009.[17] Evan graduated from Lafayette College in 2014, where he played on the varsity tennis team and was a member of the Patriot League Honor Roll for the 2009-2010 season.[18]

Although he is no longer active in tournament play, Evan has earned a reputation as one of the world's strongest blitz players on chess.com's live servers under the username Eilyisum. [19] In April 2014, Ju took home $750 after defeating International Master Marc Esserman in the 23rd Master Death Match by a score of 18-12. [20]

References

  1. ↑ "How 15-year-old Evan Ju Won the 2006 New Jersey Open Chess Championship". Kenilworthchessclub.org. 2006-09-12. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  2. 1 2 FIDE rating card for Evan D. Ju
  3. ↑ "Morris Township Youth Wins National Chess Title Again". New Jersey Hills Media Group. January 17, 2002. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Trophies Plus Sponsors of 2005 All America Chess Team". U.S. Chess Online. February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  5. ↑ "April 2002 Top 100 Rating Lists". US Chess Online. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Top Age 16 Regardless of Country, Residence , or Federation". US Chess Online. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Teen Reaches Chess Stratosphere". New Jersey Hills Media Group. May 7, 2006. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Ninth Grader Wins N.J. Junior Chess Open". New Jersey Hills Media Group. May 25, 2006. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  9. ↑ http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?200605211241.1-12740630 2006 NJ Junior Championship Results Crosstable
  10. ↑ http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?200608110101-12740630 2006 Denker Tournament of High School Champions Results Crosstable
  11. ↑ Tamburro, Peter (April–June 2006). "Chess Gems" (PDF). Atlantic Chess News. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Interview with the Former "Youngest New Jersey Chess Champion," Tyler Cowen". Kenilworthchessclub.org. 2006-09-08. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  13. ↑ Shahade, Jennifer (June 21, 2007). "Ju and Harper Win Cadets". Chess Life Online. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  14. ↑ Ippolito, Joe (October–December 2005). "Scholastic Spotlight on Evan David Ju" (PDF). Atlantic Chess News. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  15. ↑ Shahade, Jennifer (September 14, 2006). "Labor Day Recap". Chess Life Online. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  16. ↑ US Chess League Profile for Evan D. Ju
  17. ↑ "Commencement 2009" (PDF). The Pingry Record. June 7, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  18. ↑ Lafayette Tennis card for Evan D. Ju
  19. ↑ Klein, Mike. "23rd Blitz Death Match: Esserman vs Ju!". Chess.com. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  20. ↑ Klein, Mike. "Ju Shoots More Bullets Wins Death Match 23". Retrieved April 25, 2014.

External links


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