Eleven of the Contenders in the 2023 US Championships Have Been Supported by the US Chess Trust Samford Fund
The ultimate goal of the US Chess Trust Samford Fund is to bring the world chess championship title back to the US. The Samford Fund does this by supporting the most promising US players. The Samford Family has donated millions of dollars since 1987, when Joel Benjamin was the very first Samford Fellow. This year’s US Championships once again show the effectiveness of the Samford support. In the Overall US Championship, 7 out of the 12 participants are Samford Fellows: Ray Robson (2009), Sam Shankland (2013), Sam Sevian (2015-2019), Wesley So (2016), Hans Niemann (2021-current), JeffreyXiong (2017), Abhimanyu Mishra (2021-current)…
The Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellowship, marking its thirty seventh annual award, has selected Grandmasters Hans Niemann of Weston City, Connecticut, Christopher Yoo of Dublin, California and Abhimanyu Mishra of Englishtown, New Jersey, International Masters Jason Liang of Potsdam, New York, and Carissa Yip of Andover, Massachusetts, Women Grandmaster Jennifer Yu of Ashburn, Virginia, and FIDE Master Alice Lee of North Oaks, Minnesota, as its 2023 Fellows. The Samford has become the richest and most important chess fellowship in the United States having awarded over two million dollars the past three decades. Since its 1987 inception, the Fellowship has…
The US Chess Federation (US Chess) and the US Chess Trust, both independent 501(c)(3) organizations, are pleased to announce six recipients of the 2023 Scholar-Chessplayer Awards. This includes the winners of the new category introduced in 2022, Scholastic Chess Ambassador, which permits acknowledgement of lower-rated but deserving chess scholars. The Scholar-Chessplayer Awards recognize and encourage outstanding high school juniors and seniors who promote a positive image of chess, while excelling in academics and leadership. A total of $9,000 in scholarship money is being awarded this year. Each recipient will receive $1,500. All Scholar-Chessplayer Awards are funded through the US Chess…
Programs and Tournaments We Support
Programs, Tournaments/Events
Programs, Tournaments/Events
Supporting the Chess Community
Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellowship
The Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellowship is the richest and most important chess fellowship in the United States. It identifies and assists the best young American chess masters by providing top-level coaching, strong competition and access to study materials. The Fellowship also supplies a monthly stipend for living expenses so that the winners may devote themselves to chess without having financial worries.
National Girls Tournament of Champions
The U.S. Chess Trust has supported this event since its inception. Tax-deductible donations are accepted and may be earmarked for the event.
The United States Chess Federation (USCF) WIM Ruth Haring National Girls Tournament of State Champions is a tournament of Champions for girls from across the United States. It is held annually in the model of the GM Arnold Denker National Tournament of High School State Champions and Barber the Dewain Barber National Tournament of Middle School State Champions. The NGTC Haring is held in conjunction with the US Open. Each state affiliate is invited to send one representative, a female player in grades K-12 who has demonstrated her ability in a manner satisfactory to the state affiliate.
Chess-for-Youth Program
The U.S. Chess Trusts Chess-For-Youth program operates under a very simple premise chess makes kids smarter and should be an opportunity available to all students across the country. We can help you establish or continue your chess program.
The Chess Trust provides free U.S. Chess Federation memberships and chess playing equipment to support chess education programs across the nation. Programs are carried out in the field by dedicated volunteers and teachers who give their time and expertise and run chess programs in schools, community groups, and organizations.
Other Tournaments and Programs
The Scholar-Chessplayer Awards
The Scholar-Chessplayer Awards program was established in the 1980s, and is administered by the US Chess Federation and the US Chess Trust. This program is funded by the US Chess Trust and the National Scholastic Chess Foundation.
These annual scholarships awarded by the U.S. Chess Trust, the National Scholastic Chess Foundation, and the USCF, are “intended to recognize and encourage high school junior or senior students who promote a positive image of chess.
High School students who have shown outstanding merits in academics, sportsmanship and chess are eligible to apply for these scholarships.
Dewain Barber Tournament of K–8 Champions
The US Chess Trust has supported this event since its inception. Tax-deductible donations are accepted and earmarked for the event.
The Dewain Barber Tournament of K-8 Champions invites the winners of the US Chess State Affiliate championships to compete for the title of 2019 Barber Champion of Champions. In case of ties in the Barber, co-champions shall be recognized. This year’s invitational tournament will be held from August 3 to August 6 during the 2019 U.S. Open.
Arnold Denker Tournament of High School Champions
The US Chess Trust has supported this event since its inception. Tax-deductible donations are accepted and earmarked for the event.
GM Arnold Denker (February 20, 1914 – January 2, 2005) was an American chess player, Grandmaster, and a chess writer, but he will forever be remembered for his passion for promoting chess for students. He was an important chess organiser, serving on the Board of the American Chess Foundation, the United States Chess Federation, and the U.S. Chess Trust, the driving force behind the prestigious Denker Tournament of High School Champions.
The ultimate goal of the US Chess Trust Samford Fund is to bring the world chess championship title back to…
The Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellowship, marking its thirty seventh annual award, has selected Grandmasters Hans Niemann of Weston…
Frank P. Samford Jr. and Frank Samford III Chess Fellowships The Frank P. Samford Jr. and Frank Samford III Chess…
We promote and support chess in the community through our programs, and by providing resources that help support our mission.
The Trust uses its resources for charitable purposes, including social, educational, scientific, historical endeavors.
Learn More
Samford Fellows at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India
In 2022, the Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellowship, marked its thirty sixth annual award. Since its 1987 inception, Samford Fellows have included GM Irina Krush (2008 Samford Fellow), GM Wesley So (Samford Fellow 2016), and US current Women Chess Champion, IM Carissa Yip (2020, 2021, 2022 Samford Fellow) all members of USA Teams at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India.
Supporting the Chess Community
We promote and support chess in the community through our programs, and by providing resources that help support our mission. In addition, we also actively support charities conducted by the USCF and other chess organizations.
Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellowship
The Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellowship is the richest and most important chess fellowship in the United States.
Chess-for-Youth Program
The Chess-For-Youth program can help you establish or continue your chess program.
The Scholar-Chessplayer Awards
The Scholar-Chessplayer Awards program was established in the 1980s, and is funded by the US Chess Trust and the National Scholastic Chess Foundation.
These annual scholarships are “intended to recognize and encourage high school junior or senior students who promote a positive image of chess.
National Girls Tournament of Champions
The U.S. Chess Trust has supported this event since its inception. Tax-deductible donations are accepted and may be earmarked for the event.
Arnold Denker Tournament of High School Champions
The US Chess Trust has supported this event since its inception.
GM Arnold Denker (February 20, 1914 – January 2, 2005) was an American chess player and author but, he will forever be remembered for his passion for promoting chess for students.
Dewain Barber Tournament of K–8 Champions
The US Chess Trust has supported this event since its inception.
