Benjamin Joel Lawrence (11.03.1964)

U.S. Grandmaster (1986), graduated from Yale University with a History degree. At the age of 13 he broke Bobby Fischer’s record for becoming the youngest US Master up to that time.

Winner of the National Elementary (1976), Junior High School (1978), and High School Championships (1980, 1981), US Junior Championship (1980 and 1982), US Open Championship (1985), and US Championship (1987, 1997 and 2000).

Won or shared first in New York 1979 and 1981, Hollywood 1985, St. John Open 1988, Cannes Open 1989, Los Angeles Open 1991, New York Open 1993, Rilton Cup 1997, Sidney 1999, New York State championship 2000, Canadian Open 2000, Bowyer Memorial and World Open  2001, U.S. Open 2001, Foxwood Open 2002, U.S. Open 2005, Canadian Open championship 2011, Edmonton Open 2011. In 1983, in match, he defeated Nigel Short- 5½-1½.

A participant in the Olympiads between 1988 and 2002.

Benjamin assisted the IBM DEEP BLUE team which defeated Garry Kasparov in 1997. He is now in charge of the U.S. Junior team.

In 1998 the personable New Yorker was voted Grandmaster of the Year by the US Chess Federation. Inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame in Miami on May 2, 2008. He is the youngest inductee.

Best ELO: 2620 in 1993.