Justin at his game

About Justin

Justin's story

Justin
  • Justin Friedlander, recently turned 8 years old and is now a 3rd grader in Arizona. He is one of the top youth chess players in the United States. He has been invited on to the US Chess Team to play in the World Youth Chess Championships in Durban, South Africa. To help get him to the world tournament, there will be a fundraiser at AZ Air Time on Wednesday, September 3 from 12 noon - 9:00pm. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to help send him to South Africa. (Please mention Justin when you check in. Sorry, no discounts or Groupons will apply to this fundraiser.)
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  • In addition, you may play Justin in a 5-minute game of chess for $5 or, if you do not play chess, you may contribute $5, $10 or whatever amount you like to help him out. In return for your contribution, Justin will give you a coupon for one-hour free at a future AZ Air Time visit. There will also be a silent auction taking place, so please bring your cash or checks in case you are the lucky winner.
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  • The World Youth Chess Championships event is the Olympics of youth chess. Justin is going for the gold medal for the United States. Please join Justin at AZ Air Time to wish him good luck. If you cannot make the event but would like to contribute or just send some good wishes, please contact helpjustinwin@gmail.com.

Additional background about Justin's chess history:

Justin
  • When Justin was 4-years-old, he started playing chess when his older brother joined the chess club at his school. He started joining him at the chess lessons and eventually started playing at the local chess tournaments put on by the Chess Emporium. As he started to play more and more, he and his brother began taking private lessons at Unity Chess. He won the state championship when he was in 1st grade.
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  • Justin didn't win the state championship in Kindergarten but came in second to one of best friends and soccer buddies. He started his chess career before Kindergarten in the Spring of 2011. When he first started playing in tournaments he won his first 10 straight games. That earned him first place in his first two tournaments at the Kindergarten level. He then moved up to the K-3 under 600 section and placed 12th winning 3 out of 4 games.
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  • Justin did win the state championship in 1st grade. Given the choice of defending his state title in 2nd grade or going to the school carnival, he chose the latter... and that was fine with his parents if it made him happy.
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  • Since Justin earned his first rating points, he has been ahead of any other Arizona chess player his age by a very wide margin.
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  • Justin's highest national ranking was #2 in October 2013 in the age 7 and under category. He missed being invited to the 2013 World Youth Chess Championships in the United Arab Emirates by 3 months. He first eclipsed 1600 on 9/2/2013. A US player in the under 8 section must have a peak rating of 1600 6 months prior to the event which was held in December.
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  • He has traveled to National tournaments in Dallas, Nashville, Chicago, Orlando, Los Angeles and San Diego, Las Vegas. He has played in each of these cities multiple times.
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  • Justin also plays baseball, flag football and can play hockey.
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  • Last year his 2nd grade class participated in a Rubik's cube competition, winning 1st in the state. Justin with help from a coach, had taught himself in 2 weeks to solve the cube and become really fast at it. Guess who solved the most cubes on his team?
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  • Dad is still one up on him though... Justin still wears Velcro shoes!