Meet Our Members
ICA Meet our Members: Avi Harrison Kaplan
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- Written by Rachel Schechter Rachel Schechter
Is There An Expert in the House?
Name: Avi Harrison Kaplan
Age : 12
School:Chicago Public Schools Lane Tech
USCF Rating: 2027
Paging Avi Kaplan…Avi Kaplan. This remarkable young chess talent soared to Expert Level 2027 (and ranked 32nd nationally among 12-year-olds) after Chicago Chess Center’s Bastille Plus, July 14, 2019. A sweet season indeed for this gifted youngster who walked into his first chess class at Chicago Public School Decatur Classical back in 2013 “looking for something he was good at”. 150+ tournaments later, Avi walked out a winner—inspiring others who aspire—combining talent, hard work, and total dedication to the royal game.
ICA Meet our Members: Shreya Mangalam
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- Written by Rachel Schechter Rachel Schechter
$200 and a Dream
Name: Shreya Mangalam
Age : 15
School: Barrington HS
USCF Rating: 2142
ICA Meet our Members: Marshall Flynn-Mitchell
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- Written by Rachel Schechter Rachel Schechter
New Double Knight’s Tour!
Chevaliers de garde! Without computer or algorithm, chess newcomer, Marshall-Flynn Mitchell has created an open Double Knights’ Tour variant thus adding his name to a very distinguished list that includes mathematicians Leonhard Euler, and H.C. Von Warnsdorf, and literary theorist, Rudrata. Not too shabby for this inventive, 8-year-old, ICA member from Champaign, IL. “It was interesting and fun,” claims Marshall, “the last 16 squares were the hardest to configure.”
ICA Meet our Members: Adam Chambers
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- Written by Rachel Schechter Rachel Schechter
“Create Imbalances, Study Pawn Structures, Be Humble”
So states ICA member Adam Chambers, Ph.D., Data Analyst for Synchrony Financial, and accomplished Class A player currently ranked 1870.
As “a thorough understanding of pawn structure informs master level play”, modesty informs this talented, personable chess player, born and bred in the Land of Lincoln.
ICA Meet our Members: Megan Chen
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- Written by Rachel Schechter Rachel Schechter
“Play tactics, play aggressively, and work with a private coach…”
Sound advice from ICA member and Class A Player, Megan Chen, a talented 23- year old software engineer from Chicago. Rated 1909, Megan trains 5 hours per week with IM/WGM Nazi Paikidze and USCF Expert Ryan Murphy. Add to this regimen countless hours of calculation exercises and tactical puzzles via Stockfish, Chess.com, LiChess and various chess books—and it all adds up to this gifted young player, determined to reach Expert Level (2000) by the end of 2018.