Utah teenager, Kayden Troff, is headed to the U.S. Junior Championship–the country’s most elite, invitation-only junior chess competition. The stakes are fairly high for Troff, who could potentially walk away with the $20,600 cash prize and a guaranteed invite to the 2018 U.S. Chess Championship.
This event is happening at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis in Missouri, our nation’s chess capital, from July 8-17. Troff already has an impressive list of awards, including “winning the 2009 North American Championship (Under 12), placing second at the 2010 World Youth Championship U-12, taking gold in the 2012 World Youth Championship U-14, and competing in the 2013 and 2015 U.S. Chess Championships. He also notably won the 2014 U.S. Junior Closed Championship with an impressive 7/9 score at age 16.”
Salt Lake magazine originally profiled Troff, a Salt Laker, when he “along with a dozen other chess prodigies, joined Young Stars—Team USA, a program run by former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, considered by many chess aficionados to be the best player ever.” It seems Troff can’t be stopped. Checkmate.
