Local Chess Star Appears in Sports Illustrated

Chess in Sports Illustrated? We often read about strategy decisions by professional team coaches being compared to a chess game. Readers may remember Seattle Seahawks' star running back Shaun Alexander, who has donated both time and money to help youngsters play chess. How many of these coaches and players actually have a chess rating, either over-the-board or online? Which chess masters have been featured in Sports Illustrated?

One answer to the last question is FM Daniel Naroditsky! The reigning World U12 Champion is featured under "Faces in the Crowd"--a column which recognizes high achieving athletes with a photo and a short profile. In between Australian rules football and basketball we find the chess master. Here's what SI wrote about Danya:

Daniel, a sixth-grader at Crystal Springs Upland School, won the boys' under-12 world championship; he is only the second American to win a world youth title. He has won two national scholastic championships and has earned the distinction of master from both the national and international chess federations.

Danya the chess jock! Way to go young man. :-)