The US Chess Federation (US Chess) and the U.S. Chess Trust (USCT), both independent 501(c)(3) organizations, are pleased to announce six recipients of the 2026 Scholar-Chessplayer Awards. This includes the winner of the new category introduced in 2022, Scholastic Chess Ambassador, which acknowledges lower-rated but deserving chess scholars.

Photo courtesy of subjects.

The Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellowship, marking its 40th annual award, has selected Grandmasters Andy Woodward of McKinney, Texas; Abhimanyu Mishra of Englishtown, New Jersey; Andrew Hong of Saratoga, California; Brewington Hardaway of New York City; Kirk Ghazarian of Trabuco Canyon, California; International Masters Carissa Yip of St. Louis; Alice Lee of North Oaks, Minnesota; Rose Atwell of Valencia, California; Woman Grandmaster Zoey Tang of Portland, Oregon; and FIDE Master Megan Paragua of New York City as its 2026 Fellows. The Samford is the most important chess fellowship in the United States, having awarded three million dollars over four decades.

Megan Paragua Photo courtesy of Lennart Ootes

The Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship (MACF), established by internationally renowned Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley in partnership with the US Chess Trust, today announced its 2026 class of recipients. Seven promising young players will receive a combined $31,000 to support tournament participation, coaching, supplies, and other essential expenses as they continue their development and pursue their goals at the highest levels of competitive chess.

Khabir Muhammad, Photo courtesy the subjects' family.

With help from the National Scholastic Chess Foundation, we provide scholarships to secondary school students selected for their outstanding achievements in both academics and chess, as well as community service.

Zoey Tang Photo courtesy SLCC/Lennart Ootes

Conceived by US Chess Hall of Famer GM Maurice Ashley, the new Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship is designed to identify, support and elevate exceptional chess talent from the African-American community. Among the inaugural fellows is GM Brewington Hardaway, the first US-born African-American grandmaster.

Brewington Hardaway, Photo Courtesy Ikuko Hardaway

The US Chess Trust Samford Fellowship has awarded over two and a half million dollars over nearly four decades to develop world-class American talent.

Carissa Yip, Photo Courtesy IM Rosen