2026 CJA Award Entries
Click below to see the 2026 individual entries for each category and each award. Note that a category only shows up on this page after somebody has submitted an entry into it. For a full list of all categories, see Award Categories.
- Jon Jacobs
CJOY Nomination Statement for Jon Jacobs - Josip Asik
Josip Asik Nomination - JJ Lang
JJ Lang 2026.txt
- Jon Jacobs
The Long-Forgotten Master Behind Chess’s Climactic Checkmate - Jack Moore
The New York School - Mike Klein
Danya
- Northwest Chess, Jeffrey Roland editor
Northwest Chess: The Chess Friends - Azim Ahmad Julkipli
Player Spotlight - Aarush Vudathu and Swanik GandheDocument - Andy Slotis
Footnote Fame - Andy Soltis
Butterfly EffectDocument
- Dan Heisman
Maximize Your Chess Potential - Sam Shankland
Converting Extra Pawn - Yasser Seirawan
Play Winning Chess
- Jonathan Crumiller
The Horta-Osorio Collection of Antique Chess Sets / Volume 1: India - Shernaz Kennedy
Bobby Fisher Chess Queen
- Jonathan Crumiller
The Horta-Osório Collection of Antique Chess Sets / Volume 1: India - Luis Fernández Siles
The stories
- Jonathan Crumiller
The Horta-Osório Collection of Antique Chess Sets / Volume 1: India - Jennifer Shahade
Book Link - Sam Shankland
Document - Dan Hiesman
Maximize your Chess Potential - Yasser Seirawan
Play Winning Chess - Shernaz Kennedy
Bobby Fisher Chess Queen - Luis Fernández Siles
The stories
- Kelly Centrelli
Every Second Counts NM Dominique Myers vs. NBA player Grant Williams Blitz Exhibition Sportsmanship - Kelly Centrelli
Calculation - Saint Louis Chess Club
Clutch Chess Players with Versace Sunglasses by Lennart Ootes - Saint Louis Chess Club
Chris Bird Shields the Sun from So with an Umbrella - David Llada
Kasparov Photo-LladaKasparov Photo-Llada.pdf - David Llada
Ivanchuk Photo-LladaIvanchuk Photo-Llada.pdf - Lance Bark
Cat Photo by Lance BarkCat Photo by Lance Bark.pdf - George Foote
Document - Samika Nettem
The Unknown Chess Player - Joshua Anderson
The Afterparty Picture - Himani Gandhi
Best Chess Photo - Joshua Milton Anderson
Triple Crown
- Northwest Chess, Jeffrey Roland editor
Northwest Chess: Alchemist Coffee House
- Northwest Chess, Jeffrey Roland editor
Northwest Chess: The Chess Friends - George Foote
Document - Navied Mahdavian
Scholar's Mate
- David Llada
Cover Photo-David LladaCover Photo-David Llada.pdf - George Foote
Document - Natasha Roberts
Chess on Broadway
- David R. Sands
Three columns from the past year:DocumentDocument - Sarunas Sulskis
THE MAGNIFICENT 3
- David R. Sands
Chess By David R. Sands (1 column)"Pipe dreams: Washington Plumbers got the job done" - Jon Jacobs
(Entry #1) Alan Trefler – The Underdog Who Scraped the Sky (Entry #2) The Long-Forgotten Master Behind Chess’s Climactic Checkmate - Rick Massimo
The Rate Stuff - FM Jon Jacobs
The Long-Forgotten Master Behind Chess’s Climactic Checkmate - Henrik Malm Lindberg
The disappearance of Fischer and the unknown Rogard‒Fischer relationship
- Jon Jacobs
(Entry #1) Alan Trefler – The Underdog Who Scraped the Sky (Entry #2) The Long-Forgotten Master Behind Chess’s Climactic Checkmate - Maurice Ashley
A Long Time Coming - John Hartmann
Online or On Paper - Rick Massimo
Story and Sacrifice - Awonder Liang
Starting Over? - American Chess Magazine
QUEENS OVER KINGS
- Jon Jacobs
Alan Trefler – The Underdog Who Scraped the Sky - Northwest Chess, Jeffrey Roland editor
Northwest Chess: Ken Lee - John Hartmann
Every Piece is There for a Reason' - Pete Tamburro
How Chess Saves Lives
- Northwest Chess, Jeffrey Roland editor
Northwest Chess: The Chess Friends - Tatev Abrahamyan
Fighting Back - IM Grayson Rorrer
Woodward’s Commanding Run and One Player’s Fight to Stay Afloat
- Saint Louis Chess Club
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen Triumphs at Clutch Chess - Saint Louis Chess Club
New Champions Emerge in Saint Louis: Woodward - Nico Chasin, John Hartmann, Joseph Levine
Best for Last - Jennifer Yu
Doubled Over - GM Nikola Nestorovic
Sindarov in Fischer God Mode - GM John Burke
The Hottest Stars Right Now - GM John Burke
Five Star Fabi - IM Grayson Rorrer
Five Guys
- George Foote
Document - Andrew Squitiro
A Rail Good Time - David Mehler
Remembrance And Reunion
- George Foote
Document - Nikolaos Ntirlis
The Slippery Steinitz - GM Spyridon Kapnisis
When Modern Means Classical
- Irene Bantigue
A Sporting Chance
- Rick Massimo, Alexander Chernin
Coaching Counts - Alex Fishbein
Hours of Learning... and Fun!
- John Watson
Good Thinking - FM Carsten Hansen
Fresh Leaves from the Bookshelf - Miguel Ararat
My Life in Chess Book Review
- Nathan Smith
My Pandemic Gambit
- Ray Linville
Learning with Each Game - World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries
Two Timeless Pursuits: Chess and Reading - World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries
The Teeth Chess Set: A Unique Blend of Dentistry and Strategy - World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries
Chess in Literature: Don Quixote - World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries
Etched in Stone: Mexican Cultural Heritage in Chess - World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries
“You’re Sweet” — February 2026 Featured Chess Set - Jon Jacobs
A Pawn Made Flesh blog homepage Kicks ABOVE the Waistline Sunshine! (link for judges who lack Facebook access) Kicks ABOVE the Waistline Sunshine! A Prospective World Champion Has Not Studied Classic Chess Games. Does That Mean We Shouldn’t? (link for judges who lack Facebook access) A Prospective World Champion Has Not Studied Classic Chess Games. Does That Mean We Shouldn’t? Today’s Tip For Chess Teachers: Holding Onto Material Should Be Job #1 (link for judges who lack Facebook access) Today’s Tip For Chess Teachers: Holding Onto Material Should Be Job #1 Famous Author’s Lazy Blunders Mar New Book On Carlsen-Niemann Fight
- Ray Linville
7 Humorous Predictions For Chess In 2026 - MATTHEW TRAYNOR
The Great Position Reveal - Jon Jacobs
(Entry #1) “Limited Edition Ceramic Chessmen Decanters” … Filled With Bourbon?! (Entry #1 link for judges who lack Facebook access) “Limited Edition Ceramic Chessmen Decanters” … Filled With Bourbon?! (Entry #2) Berry-Boned! (Entry #2 link for judges who lack Facebook access) Berry-Boned! - Saint Louis Chess Club
GCT Finalists Attempt to Draw the Brazilian Flag! - Saint Louis Chess Club
asser Plays Dayslong Game - Eric Vigil
Chess Clocks Agents of Terror by Eric VigilChess Clocks Agents of Terror by Eric Vigil.pdf - Bob Basalla
The Snarky Dictionary by Bob BasallaThe Snarky Dictionary by Bob Basalla.pdf - Tibor Karolyi
Kasparov the Patzer An Exxercise in Humor By Tibor Karolyi.pdf
- Ray Linville
Remembering Trailblazers Who Died Last Year - Todd Bardwick and John Brezina
History of Denver ChessHistory_of_Denver_Chess.pdf - Todd Bardwick
Alfred R. Justice Chess Book Collection at Colorado College2025/04/october-2025.pdf - Jon Jacobs
Ariel Mengarini: A Legendary 20th Century Chess Personality Kicks ABOVE the Waistline - Azim Ahmad Julkipli
Historical Artical - Mark Capron and Anthony Saidy
Vlastimil Hort Obit by Anthony Saidy and Mark CapronVlastimil Hort Obit by Anthony Saidy and Mark Capron.pdf
- Ray Linville
7 Incredible Blunders That Grandmasters Made Last Year - Miguel Ararat
DocumentGame Analysis Chen Vs Jani Nationals 2025 by Miguel Ararat FloridaChess_Winter2026_pages 12 and 13 File 2Game Analysis Chen Vs Jani Nationals 2025 by Miguel Ararat FloridaChess_Winter2026_pages 14Document - Azim Ahmad Julkipli
Pawn BreaksDocument - Charan Perumalla
Double Rook Sac Game - Miguel Ararat
Nationals Chen Vs Jani Game AnalysisDocument
- Ray Linville
How Music - John Brezina
Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas2025/04/october-2025.pdf - David Heiser
Cops & Kids Chess: Community Engagement Event with UFC - JJ Lang
National Chess Day Wrap-Up - DeVaughn Croxton
Cross-Sport Initiative: Squash as Chess on Court - JJ Lang
Coaches Profile: WFM Perpetual Ogbiyoyo and Derek Wilder - Emily Maxwell
Silver Knights Chess Academy: Creating Champions Through Online Clubs
- Miguel Ararat
DocumentBook Review My Life in Chess by Miguel Ararat FloridaChess_Spring 2026Document - John Brezina and Earle Wikle
Colorado Chess Informant2026-April-CO-Chess-Informant.pdf Jan-CCI-2026-Final.pdf october-2025.pdf July_2025.pdf - Jon Jacobs
Famous Author’s Lazy Blunders Mar New Book On Carlsen-Niemann Fight (Link for judges who lack Facebook access) Famous Author’s Lazy Blunders Mar New Book On Carlsen-Niemann Fight - Cindy Wister
Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life review by Cindy WisterWister-Dark Squares Review.pdf - Mark Capron
George H. MackenzieGeorge H. Mackenzie - Mark Capron
George H. MackenzieGeorge H. Mackenzie - Patricio Robayo
A Game of Healing by Patricio RobayoA Game of Healing by Patricio Robayo.pdf - Pranav Srinivasula
How to Analyze Your Games Reviewed by Pranav SrinivasulaHow to Analyze Your Games Reviewed by Pranav Srinivasula.pdf - Samika Nettem
A Zillion Chess and Life Hacks - Pranav Srinivasula
Maximize Your Chess Potential - Akshaj Bodla
Chess Villian: How Alexander Alekhine Alienated the World and Changed the Game - Rex Gray
Thinking Sideways review by Rex GrayThinking Sideways review by Rex Gray.pdf - Mark Capron
The Pawn Reviewed by Mark CapronThe Pawn Reviewed by Mark Capron.pdf
- Dan Heisman
Chess Books and Prerequisites - Jon Jacobs
(Entry #1) A Prospective World Champion Has Not Studied Classic Chess Games. Does That Mean We Shouldn’t? (Entry #1 link for judges who lack Facebook access) A Prospective World Champion Has Not Studied Classic Chess Games. Does That Mean We Shouldn’t? (Entry #2) How Do Our Minds Absorb Tactics Lessons? (Entry #2 link for judges who lack Facebook access) How Do Our Minds Absorb Tactics Lessons? - Saint Louis Chess Club
The Practical World Champions: Vishy Anand & Mikhail Tal | Masters Class - GM Denes Boros - Frank Elley
The Road Almost Not Taken by Frank ElleyThe Road Almost Not Taken by Frank Elley.pdf
- Jesse Cohen, Earle Wikle, and Kevin McConnell
Colorado State Chess Association - Peter Dyson (for Evan Dyson, webmaster)
Space Coast Chess Foundation - Jack Aronian & Laurel Aronian
Chessin1day Website
- Kostya Kavutskiy
2025 Spring Eurotrip - Meeting a Hero - Jon Jacobs
(Entry #1) I Played Shoulder To Shoulder With Fischer And Petrosian (* but only on a magazine page alas!) (Link for judges who lack Facebook access) I Played Shoulder To Shoulder With Fischer And Petrosian (* but only on a magazine page alas!) - Saint Louis Chess Club
Introduction to Today In Chess with PBS - Gene Salomon and Diane Dahl
Pomar Alekhine and Me By Gene Salomon and Diane DahlPomar Alekhine and Me By Gene Salomon and Diane Dahl.pdf - Azim Ahmad Julkipli
Personal NarrativeDocument - Daaim Shabazz
25 Years on the Chess Beat - Joshua Milton Anderson
Building What We Have Today
- Peter Dyson
Mastery by the Sea: GM Zhou Tops 31th Space Coast Open - Northwest Chess, Jeffrey Roland editor
Northwest Chess: Josh Sinanan - Dennis Norman
Awonder Liang Sweeps 2026 Charlotte Open: Full Recap! - Rachel Schechter
MINNESOTA’S FIRST GRAND PRIX SCHOLASTIC TOURNAMENT by Rachel SchechterMINNESOTA’S FIRST GRAND PRIX SCHOLASTIC TOURNAMENT by Rachel Schechter.pdf - Michael Rohde
9th Annual New York State Girls Championship Breaks Attendance Records - JJ Lang
Nebraska Hall of Fame Tournament Celebrates Past - Joshua Milton Anderson
1 Fabulous WeekendDocumentDocumentDocument
- Jon Jacobs
How Scholastic Chess Emerged From Its Time Of Adolescence One Player’s Eye-Popping Upset Streak - Saint Louis Chess Club
Maurice Ashley with Javokhir Sindarov After Winning the 2026 Candidates - Saint Louis Chess Club
Kasparov Analyzes the Rise of Sindarov - Saint Louis Chess Club
Swiercz on Danya: Chess World is Missing an Important Piece - Samika Nettem
Queens Corner Katie Kormanik Interview by Samika NettemQueens Corner Katie Kormanik Interview by Samika Nettem.pdf - Samika Nettem
Queens Corner Katie Kormanik Interview by Samika NettemQueens Corner Katie Kormanik Interview by Samika Nettem.pdf - Samika Nettem
Queens Corner KYLA ZHAO Interview by Samika NettemQueens Corner KYLA ZHAO Interview by Samika Nettem.pdf - Mark Capron
The Pawn Reviewed by Mark CapronThe Pawn Reviewed by Mark Capron.pdf - Mark Capron
In the Limelight Tibor Karolyi interview by Mark CapronIn the Limelight Tibor Karolyi interview by Mark Capron.pdf - Mark Capron
Library Focus Lance Bark Interview by Mark CapronLibrary Focus Lance Bark Interview by Mark Capron - Mark Capron
In the Limelight JJ Lang interview by Mark CapronIn the Limelight JJ Lang interview by Mark Capron.pdf - WIM Alexey Root
The Opening: The Second Most Famous Musical About Chess Opens Thursday
- Saint Louis Chess Club
Salvage a Draw! Distant Opposition w/ GM Var Akobian - Awani Kumar
Happy Birthday GM Jon Edwards by Awani KumarHappy Birthday GM Jon Edwards by Awani Kumar.pdf - Azim Ahmad Julkipli
Instructive Writing Piece - Azim Ahmad Julkipi
Pawn BreaksDocument
- Saint Louis Chess Club
Saint Louis Chess Club Website - World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries
World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries - Joshua Milton Anderson
Best Website U500
- Saint Louis Chess Club
Can you solve this chess puzzle faster than Pragg? - Saint Louis Chess Club
Gukesh takes on our Blind Knight Challenge - Saint Louis Chess Club
Chess DNA: Hans vs. Fabi - Saint Louis Chess Club
What is Your Daniel Naroditsky Story? - Bryan Tillis
Daniel Serna interview
- Saint Louis Chess Club
Saint Louis Chess Club X
- Saint Louis Chess Club
Worlds Apart: Hikaru at Candidates 2016 - Saint Louis Chess Club
Fabiano’s Resilience: 2016 Moscow Candidates - Saint Louis Chess Club
Fabi Standing on the Summit | 2018 Candidates & World Championship | MINI-DOC
- Saint Louis Chess Club
Today in Chess | 2026 Candidates Edition | PROMO - Saint Louis Chess Club
2025 Grand Chess Tour Finals - Saint Louis Chess Club
2025 Clutch Chess | Champions Showdown - Dennis Norman
2025 US Masters Kicks Off in Charlotte! Nine Still Perfect at US Masters! GM Andrew Hong Leads US Masters: Day 3 Recap! Three Tied Atop US Masters: Day 4 Recap! Awonder Liang Wins US Masters in Dramatic Playoff: Final Recap! - US Chess
National Elementary School Ch - US Chess
2026 FIDE Candidates and Women's Candidates Tournaments
- Saint Louis Chess Club
Lectures with GM Denes Boros
- Sabina Foisor
Class In Session - Bryan Tillis
One Move at a Time
- Sabina Foisor
One Move at a Time -- Alisa Melekhina interview (2 parts) - Bryan Tillis
One Move at a Time -- John Donaldson interview (2 parts) - Bryan Tillis
One Move at a Time -- Andy Woodward interview - Sabina Foisor
One Move at a Time -- Iris Mou interview
- Felix Guo
My Experience at the 2025 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship 2025 SuperStates Championship: A Record-Breaking Celebration of Chess Excellence Lessons from the World School Chess Championship in Peru: My Journey to Growth Journey to National Master: A Dream Comes True at the Dreaming King Open ICEA Chess in SuperStates 2024 - Jason Liang
Persistence Prevails in Paraguay! - WGM Zoey Tang
No Stepping Back!
- Ella Guo
The World Schools Team Championship - Maximilian Lu
Bearing Down in Brazil
- Alaa-addin Moussa
The Hakobyans Sweep Memorial Day Weekend
- Alaa-addin Moussa
The Hakobyans Sweep Memorial Day Weekend
- Alaa-addin Moussa
Document - Northwest Chess, Jeffrey Roland editor
Northwest Chess: Jeffrey Roland - George Foote
Document
- Texas Chess Association
TCA Facebook Page
- Texas Chess Association
TCA Website - Paul Covington
Oklahoma Chess Assocociation - Paul Covington
Oklahoma Chess Association 2025 News Archive
- Alessandro De Marchi-Blumstein
ACN 2026 - Northwest Chess, Jeffrey Roland editor
Northwest Chess: Jeffrey Roland - George Foote
Document
- Scott Varagona
"Urgh." - by Scott Varagona
- Northwest Chess, Jeffrey Roland editor
Northwest Chess: Wilson Gibbins
- Northwest Chess, Jeffrey Roland editor
Northwest Chess: Meiling Cheng
- Paul Covington
Oklahoma Chess Magazine