Christopher Yoo (chess player) explained

Christopher Yoo
Country:United States
Birth Date:19 December 2006[1]
Birth Place:Fremont, California
Grandmaster (2022)
Peakrating:2616 (August 2024)
Fideid:30909694

Christopher Woojin Yoo (born December 19, 2006) is an American chess grandmaster. He became the youngest International Master in American history in February 2019[2] until surpassed by Abhimanyu Mishra later in 2019.[3]

Chess career

In March/April 2018, Yoo earned clear first place in the Charlotte Chess Center's Spring 2018 IM Norm Invitational held in Charlotte, North Carolina with a score of 6.0/9.[4] Yoo also won the 2020 US Cadet (under-16) Championship.[5]

In May 2021, Yoo tied for first place with GM Peter Prohaszka in the Memorial Day 2021 CCCSA GM Norm Invitational tournament with a performance rating of 2600, earning his first GM norm. [6]

In September 2021, Yoo won the Labor Day 2021 CCCSA GM Norm Invitational tournament with a performance rating of 2620, earning his second GM norm. [7]

In November 2021, Yoo tied for 3rd place at the 2021 US Masters with a performance rating of 2604, earning his third GM norm.[8]

On December 12, 2021, Yoo achieved a live FIDE rating of 2500.2 after round 5 of the Marshall Chess Club Championship, fulfilling the last requirement for the Grandmaster title.

In December 2021, Yoo tied for 1st place at the 2021 Charlotte Open alongside Grandmasters Titas Stremavičius, Cemil Can Ali Marandi, Tanguy Ringoir, Robby Kevlishvili, and Akshat Chandra with a performance rating of 2603, earning a fourth GM norm.[9]

In July 2022, Yoo won the US Junior Chess Championship with 7/9, a point ahead of the field. [10]

In October 2022, Yoo defeated GM Wesley So with the black pieces in the second round of the US Chess Championship in an over 200 point upset.

In November 2022, Yoo tied for 1st place at the 2022 US Masters with a performance rating of 2653, and claimed the 2022 US Masters title after winning a blitz playoff against GM Alejandro Ramirez by a score of 2-0. [11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Klein . Mike . Bay Area International Makes Chess History . Chess.com. 9 January 2019 .
  2. Web site: Pereira . Antonio . Did Yoo know? . Chess News . en . 19 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Doggers . Peter . Abhimanyu Mishra Youngest IM In History . Chess.com. 16 November 2019 .
  4. Web site: CCCSA GM/IM Norm Invitational - Memorial Day 2021 CCCSA GM/IM Norm Invitational Chess Tournament. chessstream.com.
  5. Web site: Hartmann . John . IM Christopher Yoo Wins 2020 Cadet . US Chess.org . en . 28 September 2020.
  6. Web site: CCCSA GM/IM Norm Invitational - Holiday 2021 GM/IM Norm Invitational Chess Tournament.
  7. Web site: CCCSA GM/IM Norm Invitational - Labor Day 2021 GM/IM Norm Invitational Chess Tournament.
  8. Web site: 2021 US Masters.
  9. Web site: 2021 Charlotte Open.
  10. Web site: Levin . Anthony . Yoo, Yu, Shabalov Win U.S. National Championships . Chess.com . 19 July 2022 . 13 August 2022.
  11. Web site: 2023 US Masters ~ Charlotte Chess Center .