Jennifer Yu

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Title: 
Woman International Master
Rating: 
2402
Federation: 
Ashburn, VA
Age: 
16
Status: 
Accepted
Chess Highlights: 
WGM Jennifer Yu is currently ranked 1st in the world in the female 16 and under active player category. She was well on her way to chess stardom after earning gold medal at the 2014 World Youth Chess Championship in South Africa--the only U.S. gold in the event and the first world title for an American girl since 1987. She placed 6th at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, 8th in 2016, and 12th in 2015.
Bio: 

Yu enters this year’s championship with a USCF rating of 2402. She was born in Ithaca, New York and started playing chess in first grade, attending an after-school chess class. After the school finished its chess sessions, Yu wanted to continue her interest and asked her parents to find a coach. This simple request launched Yu’s chess career. They took her to group chess lessons and tournaments for kids, but didn’t realize how talented she was until that coach informed them.

Today, the 16-year-old lives in Ashburn, Virginia and is a pretty typical tenth-grader, aside from her immense chess talent.  Her well-rounded interests include playing the flute and piano, listening to music, drawing, and playing sports. She becomes a better player through competition in tournaments where she can think through difficult challenges as she encounters them.

Yu holds a FIDE rating of 2196 and has participated in three World Youth Chess Championships. At age 10, she came in 11th place at the 2012 World Youth Championship in Slovenia, and in 2013 she placed fourth in the United Arab Emirates.

Tag: 
2018 U.S. Women's Championship