GM-elect Sam Shankland

Bio: Sam Shankland, 19, announced he would be retiring from the game of chess shortly before winning the 2010 U.S. Junior Closed Championship. That achievement offered him an automatic invitation to play in the 2011 U.S. Championship, which ultimately proved to be a difficult offer to refuse. Although Sam vowed to quit chess last year, he did have some outstanding commitments he promised to uphold. He performed quite well in the U.S. Chess League for the New England Nor'Easters as their top board, helping them secure the USCL title in their first year in the league. Sam then went on to secure a GM norm at the 2010 Berkeley Invitational. His status is currently under review by FIDE.  

He won a gold medal for the USA at the 2008 World Youth Championship in Vietnam, and the Brandeis University student has called the U.S. Championship "his dream tournament for the year." Shankland's chess prowess catapulted in just over a year to earn him the title of International Master. Sam also qualified to play in the 2009 U.S. Championship after winning the final match of the Tournament of State Champions.

Because of his usually strong, but sometimes unpredictable, play, he is an intriguing player to watch at this year's championship.