Highlights: 2007 Samford Scholarship winner, 2006 2nd All Star Team: Board 1

Bio: Josh Friedel just recently earned his Grandmaster title after the 2008 U.S. Championship. He learned chess at the early age of 3 and began tournament play at age 6. In 1995, he scored his first tournament victor y, winning the New Hampshire State Amateur Championship at age 8. His first major tournament victory was in 2001 when he won the Pan Am Open. In 2007, Friedel earned the prestigious Samford Scholarship, allowing him to focus on chess full-time for two years.

Josh Friedel was born and raised in New Hampshire. At the age of 19, Friedel moved to the bay area and has been enjoying it ever since. Friedel first learned chess at the young age of 3, and played his first tournament at age 6. 

Before reaching the master level, Friedel worked closely with NM Hal Terrie, and since then worked with GM Larry Christiansen, GM Gregory Kaidanov, and GM Alex Goldin. Friedel made IM at age 18 and GM just before his 22nd birthday. Friedel has been state champion of New Hampshire three times and state champion of California twice. Friedel has also won or tied in several open tournaments in the United States, including Eastern and National Opens. Thus far, in Friedel's young chess career, he has played in four U.S. Championships in which he tied for fourth and scoring his final GM norm.

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