Luke Harmon-Vellotti : : Official Idaho Chess Sponsorship Website

Contact the Sponsor Luke Team at sponsorluke@yahoo.com. You may also call 713-2486 for more info.

Idaho made national history on March 15, 2008 for producing the youngest winner ever of any state to take 1st place in any official State Chess Championships!

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Luke's Current Rating: USCF 2022 - Blitz 2101 - FIDE 2011

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The first and second place recipients were tied by FM Darwin Yang and WIM Alisa Melekhina, who will each receive a $4000 scholarship. Third place goes to Luke Harmon-Vellotti, who will receive a $2000 scholarship...

Click Here to Read More!

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Posted by Grandmaster Susan Polgar on June 07, 2009

"America's next Phenom"

Left to Right: Daniel Vellotti, Luke Harmon-Vellotti, and GM Susan Polgar

"10 year old Luke defeated 4 masters, 1 GM, and drew a 2350+ player this past weekend at the Las Vegas International Chess Festival! He also won the SP World Open Puzzle Solving Championship by solving all 10 puzzles correctly in 90 seconds!" -- http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/

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June 5, 2009: Luke accepting his $575 check from organizer Fred Gruenberg after winning the Under 2300 section of the 2009 National Open Game 10 Championship.

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March, 2009: Luke begins training with GM Kaidanov. Luke hopes to bring a national spotlight to Idaho Chess by becoming one of the youngest masters in America.

GM Kaidanov: "Luke is every chess coach's dream student."

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February 18, 2009: Luke achieves 1st Place Overall for Idaho in the World Chess Live Junior Grand Prix, earning a cash prize and gift certificates.

From the WCL: "We congratulate you for your success on finishing 1st Place for your state with a total of 145 points."

- Joel M. Berez, President of the Internet Chess Club

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February 15, 2009: Luke becomes Idaho's highest rated active player in Idaho!

(among both youth and adults)

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Picture above: U.S. Chess School Invitees with their trainer, Grandmaster Yuri Shulman, the 2008 U.S. Champion.

January 1-5, 2009: Luke attends the Invitational U.S. Chess School Training Camp in Scottsdale, Arizona.

(Click here for pics and articles)

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January 1, 2009: Luke earns the rank of FIDE Candidate Master

(Rating of 2011 FIDE)

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Luke becomes Idaho's youngest Chess Expert over Thanksgiving weekend!

Luke celebrated his 10th birthday by achieving one of the highest goals of a chess player- a USCF rating greater than 2000. On the weekend of Nov. 24th, 2008, Luke joined an elite group of nationally ranked chess players who have earned the rank of Chess Expert. Idaho currently has only two other active playing Experts, so Luke's latest achievement is yet another victory for the state.

Luke also retained official Title of highest-rated youth player in the United States.

Click here for the entire list of Top rated youth players in the country, as of 2008.

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Luke makes the 2009 All American Chess Team!

From the United States Chess Federation (USCF) - Oct. 21, 2008

"Dear Luke Harmon-Vellotti: The USCF is pleased to recognize you as a member of the 2009 USCF All America Team. This team comprises the nation's very best chess players 18 and under . This is one of the highest honors attainable by a young chess player! You have been selected as one of about 40 candidates from among more than 40,000 youth and scholastic members."

-- Jerry Nash Scholastic and FIDE Director

Recent Chess Articles

"Getting Ready for Vietnam" (September, 2008)

"The Littlest Warrior" (August, 2008)

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"Boise Boy Invited to World Championships" (August, 2008)