Chess in Nebraska

Top Player| Nathan Solon (2450 USCF)
Champion| Nicholas LaCroix & Luke Hengen
USCF Affiliate| Nebraska State Chess Association
Active Players| 245

Chess in Nebraska refers to competitive chess played within the state of Nebraska. As of January 2025[update], Nebraska has 245 active players registered with the United States Chess Federation.[1] The current USCF Nebraska state affiliate is the Nebraska State Chess Association.[2][3]

## History

[edit]

In March 1909, the Nebraska State Journal published a game claimed to have been between José Raúl Capablanca and another player named F. D. Cornell.[4]

Throughout the 1960s and 70's, Nebraska was a hotspot for chess tournaments in the United States.[5][6] The top chess players from across the nation would travel to the state to compete, including eventual world champion Bobby Fischer. In 1949 and 1959, the U.S. Open Chess Championship was hosted in Omaha. Lincoln hosted the same tournament in 1969 and 1975. Some Nebraskans who began playing around this time would go on to compete globally.

In 1996, the Nebraska Chess Hall of Fame was established.[5] In order for someone to be inducted, they needed to have lived in the state at some point. As of May 2024, 19 people have been inducted into it.

In February 2020, a Bughouse chess tournament was held in Fremont.[7]

In November 2021, the chess club at Plains Baptist Church in Lincoln conducted a simultaneous exhibition featuring JJ Lang.[8] Lang played 16 games at once.

In 2022, the Kearney Chess Club was established.[9] According to one of the club's co-founders, the club caught the attention of a wide age range of players: “We’ve got children as young as 10 that are coming up and playing, we’ve got people in their 50’s that are playing and just all sorts of life experiences.”

In July 2024, the Hastings Tribune published a news story about 14-year-old chess player Thomas Jessop.[10] The article details Jessop's feats such as his victory in the 6-8 division at the Nebraska State Qualifier that May. He was set to compete at the national tournament in Virginia later that month.

The strongest chess tournament in Nebraska history took place from May 31 to June 1, 2025 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1975 U.S. Open.[11][12] Four grandmasters were present at the anniversary event: Manuel Petrosyan, Jianchao Zhou, Karen Grigoryan, and Vojtech Plat.

## Competitors

[edit]

As of January 2025, the following people are the top rated active USCF players from Nebraska:[1]

Position  | Name  | USCF Rating  | USCF Titles

|
|
|

1  | Nathan Solon  | 2450  | National Master, Life Master (norms-based)
2  | Rodney A Malpert  | 2326  | Original Life Master, National Master, Life Master (norms-based)
3  | Michael P Blankenau  | 2250  | National Master, Candidate Master (norms-based)
4  | Rich Chess  | 2225  | National Master
5  | Jonathan J Lang  | 2114  | Candidate Master (norms-based)
6  | Jacob Kenneth Wagner  | 2053  | 1st Category
7  | Nicholas Paul Lacroix  | 2048  | 1st Category
8  | Abhinav Suresh  | 1989  | 1st Category
9  | Luke O Hengen  | 1988  | 1st Category
10  | Kirill Belashchenko  | 1971  | 1st Category

Other top Nebraska chess players who aren't currently active USCF members include NM Ilan Vardi (2341 Rating), NM Paul D Rohwer (2313 Rating), and Kaveh Alagheband (2211 Rating).

## List of state champions (1899 - 2023)

[edit]

The Nebraska State Chess Association has kept a record of every Nebraska state champion from 1899 onward.[2] In the association's records, the first name of every state champion is abbreviated to a single initial until 2020.

Year  | Winner(s)  | City  | Notes

|
|
|

1899  | F. M. Biddle  | Omaha |
1900  | P. J. Barron  | Lincoln |
1901  | None |  | No tournament was held this year[2]
1902  | None |  | No tournament was held this year[2]
1903  | None |  | No tournament was held this year[2]
1904  | J. L. Clark  | Lincoln |
1905  | J. L. Clark (2)  | Lincoln |
1906  | J. L. Clark (3)  | Lincoln |
1907  | J. H. Mockett  | Lincoln |
1908  | J. H. Mockett (2)  | Lincoln |
1909  | J. H. Mockett (3)  | Lincoln |
1910  | J. H. Mockett (4)  | Lincoln |
1911  | F. D. Cornell  | Beatrice |
1912  | W. T. Pinney  | ?  |
1913  | C. C. Enberg  | ?  |
1914  | P. J. Barron (2)  | ?  |
1915  | J. H. Mockett (5)  | Lincoln |
1916  | J. H. Mockett (6)  | Lincoln |
1917  | H. E. Ohman  | Omaha |
1918  | H. E. Ohman (2)  | Omaha |
1919  | H. E. Ohman (3)  | Omaha |
1920  | H. E. Ohman (4)  | Omaha |
1921  | H. E. Ohman (5)  | Omaha |
1922  | H. E. Ohman (6)  | Omaha |
1923  | H. E. Ohman (7)  | Omaha |
1924  | H. E. Ohman (8)  | Omaha |
1925  | H. E. Ohman (9)  | Omaha |
1926  | H. E. Ohman (10)  | Omaha |
1927  | H. E. Ohman (11)  | Omaha |
1928  | H. E. Ohman (12)  | Omaha |
1929  | H. E. Ohman (13)  | Omaha |
1930  | H. E. Ohman (14)  | Omaha |
1931  | H. E. Ohman (15)  | Omaha |
1932  | H. E. Ohman (16)  | Omaha |
1933  | H. E. Ohman (17)  | Omaha |
1934  | H. E. Ohman (18)  | Omaha |
1935  | H. E. Ohman (19)  | Omaha |
1936  | H. E. Ohman (20)  | Omaha |
1937  | H. E. Ohman (21)  | Omaha |
1938  | H. E. Ohman (22)  | Omaha |
1939  | H. E. Ohman (23)  | Omaha |
1940  | H. E. Ohman (24)  | Omaha |
1941  | D. Saxton  | Omaha |
1942  | H. E. Ohman (25)  | Omaha |
1943  | D. Saxton (2), A.C. Ludwig  | Omaha, Omaha | Tie
1944  | A. C. Ludwig (2)  | Omaha |
1945  | G. Halsey  | Omaha |
1946  | H. E. Ohman (26)  | Omaha |
1947  | A. C. Ludwig (3)  | Omaha |
1948  | L. T. Magee  | Omaha |
1949  | A. C. Ludwig (4)  | Omaha |
1950  | L. T. Magee (2)  | Omaha |
1951  | L. T. Magee (3)  | Omaha |
1952  | J. L. Spence  | Omaha |
1953  | L. T. Magee (4)  | Omaha |
1954  | A. Liepnieks  | Lincoln |
1955  | L. T. Magee (5)  | Omaha |
1956  | A. Liepnieks (2)  | Lincoln |
1957  | R. McLellan  | Omaha |
1958  | R. McLellan (2)  | Omaha |
1959  | J. L. Spence (2)  | Omaha |
1960  | E. Czapski  | Lincoln |
1961  | A. Liepnieks (3)  | Lincoln |
1962  | A. Sildmets  | Lincoln |
1963  | R. Vincent  | Omaha |
1964  | D. Fritzinger  | Lincoln |
1965  | G. Ramirez  | Omaha |
1966  | R. McLellan (3)  | Omaha |
1967  | J. Tomas  | Omaha |
1968  | J. Tomas (2)  | Omaha |
1969  | J. Tomas (3)  | Omaha |
1970  | J. Tomas (4)  | Omaha |
1971  | R. Chess  | Omaha |
1972  | R. McLellan (4)  | Omaha |
1973  | D. Reynolds  | Omaha |
1974  | D. Reynolds (2), L. Schmdt  | Omaha, Lincoln | Tie
1975  | J. Milton  | Omaha |
1976  | R. Chess (2)  | Omaha |
1977  | R. Malpert, L. Schmdt (2)  | Lincoln, Lincoln | Tie
1978  | M. Mathews  | Lincoln |
1979  | R. Perry  | Lincoln |
1980  | R. Perry (2)  | Lincoln |
1981  | A. Hood (Closed), R. Perry (3) (Midwest)  | Omaha, Lincoln | Tie
1982  | R. Perry (4)  | Lincoln |
1983  | P. Waldowski  | Omaha |
1984  | K. Fleming  | Lincoln |
1985  | R. Chess (3)  | Omaha |
1986  | M. Mahowald  | Lincoln |
1987  | R. Chess (4)  | Omaha |
1988  | M. Mahowald (2)  | Lincoln |
1989  | G. Colvin, K. Fleming (2)  | Lincoln, Lincoln | Tie
1990  | M. Dreiger  | Omaha |
1991  | K. Fleming (3)  | Lincoln |
1992  | K. Fleming (4)  | Omaha |
1993  | M. Blankenau  | Omaha |
1994  | M. Blankenau (2)  | Omaha |
1995  | W. Pressnall  | North Platte |
1996  | K. Fleming (5)  | Hastings |
1997  | K. Fleming (6)  | Hastings |
1998  | M. Cushing  | Lincoln |
1999  | M. Cushing (2), M. Dreiger (2)  | Lincoln, Omaha | Tie
2000  | J. Ballard  | Lincoln |
2001  | R. Simond  | Lincoln |
2002  | K. Kiewra  | Lincoln |
2003  | K. Kiewra (2)  | Lincoln |
2004  | K. Kiewra (3)  | Lincoln |
2005  | K. Kiewra (4)  | Lincoln |
2006  | K. Kiewra (5)  | Lincoln |
2007  | K. Kiewra (6)  | Lincoln |
2008  | K. Kiewra (7)  | Lincoln |
2009  | K. Kiewra (8)  | Lincoln |
2010  | K. Kiewra (9)  | Lincoln |
2011  | M. Zeljko  | Lincoln |
2012  | J. Knapp  | Omaha |
2013  | B. Fabrikant  | Omaha |
2014  | B. Fabrikant (2), J. Wan  | Omaha, Lincoln | Tie
2015  | B. Fabrikant (3)  | Omaha |
2016  | B. Fabrikant (4)  | Omaha |
2017  | Y. Tan  | Lincoln |
2018  | Y. Tan (2)  | Lincoln |
2019  | Y. Tan (3)  | Lincoln |
2020  | Kent Nelson, John Linscott  | Lincoln, Lincoln | Tie
2021  | None |  | No tournament was held this year[2]
2022  | Nicholas Lacroix  | Omaha |
2023  | Nicholas Lacroix (2), Jacob Wagner  | Omaha, Omaha | Tie
2024  | Nicholas LaCroix (3), Luke Hengen  | Omaha, Omaha | Tie

## See also

[edit]

* Chess in Utah
* Chess in Wyoming

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Top Rated Players in NE". The United States Chess Federation. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
2. ^ a b c d e f "State Champions". Nebraska State Chess Association. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
3. ^ "Club Search and Affiliate Directory". United States Chess Federation. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
4. ^ "Chess history: Capablanca played the game!". ChessBase. November 4, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
5. ^ a b Satoski, Taylor (May 30, 2024). "Nebraska Chess Hall of Fame celebrates '70s with reunion, tournament". York News-Times. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
6. ^ Chamberlain, Stacey (May 30, 2024). "Master chess players uniting for Hall of Fame celebration". KETV. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
7. ^ "Two-player 'bughouse' chess tournament taking place this weekend". Fremont Tribune. January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
8. ^ Verduyn, Alayna (November 5, 2021). "Chess expert takes on local players". KLKN. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
9. ^ Bentley, Lauryn (September 20, 2022). "Avid chess players start Kearney Chess Club". KHGI Nebraska TV. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
10. ^ Huthmacher, John (July 16, 2024). "Edgar teen has all the right moves in chess competition". Hastings Tribune. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
11. ^ Lang, J. J. (June 6, 2025). "Nebraska Hall of Fame Tournament Celebrates Past, Present, and Future of Midwest Chess | US Chess.org". new.uschess.org. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
12. ^ "US Chess MSA - Cross Table for 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1975 US OPEN (Event 202506019522)". www.uschess.org. Retrieved August 12, 2025.

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