Chess Team Member Places Second in Major Tournament

University of Texas at Dallas chess team member David Brodsky tied for second place in the recent U.S. Junior Championship held in St. Louis. Brodsky, a sophomore computer science major, is rated as an International Master (IM), a title that is awarded to strong chess players who are below the level of grandmaster. There were five IMs and four Grandmasters (GM) at the tournament.

Brodsky only lost one game — to an opponent whose rating was 100 points higher. If he had won his last game instead of drawing it, he would have tied for first place.

Jim Stallings, UT Dallas director of chess, said the US Junior Championship is representative of the types of tournaments in which Brodsky must compete if he is to gain the Grandmaster title.

“With each new tournament, David builds more experience and more confidence. It is somewhat analogous to going to the gym and working out. It is only after a sustained effort over time that the improvements begin to show,” said Stallings. “We are very pleased to see David continuing his drive to the GM title. In this tournament he gained 19 rating points, which was a significant step forward. Another 20 points and he will have met the required rating for the Grandmaster title.”