2024 Mid-South Chess Camp

Joel Benjamin International Grandmaster
Grandmaster Joel Benjamin was the prodigy who broke Bobby Fischer's record for youngest U.S. Master. After winning many national scholastic and junior titles, Joel competed in a record 23 consecutive U.S. Championships from 1981-2006 and took the title three times. He has also played on many national teams, competing in Olympiads for the U.S. six times including team silver 1990, team bronze 1996, and two World Team Championships, team gold 1993, team silver 1997. and individual gold 1993. He shared first in six World Opens. Joel was the chess consultant to the IBM's chess computer Deep Blue for its victorious match with Garry Kasparov in 1997, the subject of the 2013 off-Broadway production The Machine (Joel is a character in the show). He also had a cameo in the film, Searching For Bobby Fischer (1993). Check out his new books, "Liquidation on the Chessboard" and "Winning the World Open.''

Lázaro Bruzón International Grandmaster
International Grandmaster Lázaro Bruzón is a Cuban-American and a former World Junior Champion. In addition, GM Bruzon is a 2-time American Continental Champion, a 2-time IBEROAMERICAN Champion and a 5 time Cuban Champion. In 2013 he tied for 1st Place at the World Open Chess Tournament. He has been ranked as high as 26th in the World. GM Bruzon is back for his 2nd year with our camp and we could not be more excited about having him coach for us again.

Anna Sharevich International Woman Grandmaster
International Women’s Grandmaster Anna Sharevich from Belarus began her chess career at the tender age of five. Anna was awarded her Grandmaster title in 2006 at the World Chess Olympiad in Torino. She is a four time Belarus Women’s Champion and has represented Belarus on its National Team six times at the World Chess Olympiads, (2002-2012). As a member of the German Club USV, Anna won the German Bundesliga in 2007 and in 2010 and played in the European Club Cups four times (once as the Captain of the Belarusian team, EPAM. In December 2013, Anna graduated from Lindenwood University with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

Alex Velikanov International Master
Currently a student at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, IM Alex (Sasha) Velikanov is a dedicated chess player and instructor. Alex has been hooked on the game ever since he first discovered chess at the early age of four years old, from a basic game on his computer. By the time he was 12 years old, he was a 2000 rated player with global experience, from Vietnam for the 2008 World Youth Chess Championships, to Russia, to Canada. Nine years later, he has added notable results such as the North American U-16 Champion and Denker Tournament of High School Champions Winner. Alex stresses tactics and opening knowledge (ideas, not just theory!) as two crucial cornerstones of chess development. As the #4 rated player in his home state of Wisconsin, Alex is still fascinated by the game and continues to work tirelessly everyday to get to the next level of chess understanding.

Nolan Hendrickson National Master
Nolan is one of the top chess players and chess coaches in Wisconsin. He earned his National Master at the age of 17 and the life Master title at 22. Nolan was awarded a scholarship for competitive chess at Lindenwood University where he had the unique opportunity to study under coach GM Vasser Seirawan - an American chess legend. Nolan is extremely passionate about teaching chess and is motivated to help his students accomplish their chess-related goals. He has been teaching for over 10 years and has helped people of all ages improve their rating and zest for the game. Nolan utilizes his knowledge of psychology and learning to help his students maximize their success in chess. Nolan has taught for Mid-South Chess' Summer Camps for years and is held in high esteem by the campers, staff, and families. Outside of chess, Nolan holds a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a licensed therapist in Wisconsin. He hopes to publish his book on emotion theory in the years to come.

Jennie Liu USCF Expert
Mid-South Chess welcomes Chess Expert Jennie Liu for the 6th year to its line-up of summer camp instructors. Jennie founded her elementary school's chess club while in high school and taught chess to the K - 3rd graders. In 2007 and 2008, she represented the USA in the World Youth Chess Championships. Jennie was President of the Chess Club at Columbia University (class of 2015). Since graduation, she has been working as a quantitative trader at a proprietary trading firm in New York City. Even with her professional commitments, Jennie continues to play skilled and competitive chess.

Dr. Andre Duvall Early Childhood Educator
André Duvall operates an independent piano studio for all ages, is Organist, Pianist, and Associate Director of Music at Germantown United Methodist Church, teaches at Lausanne Collegiate School Conservatory, and performs as a freelance collaborative/solo pianist with local musicians and organizations for various public and private events. He is Past-President of Greater Memphis Music Teachers Association, a Past-Dean of the Memphis Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and has performed as soloist with the Arkansas Symphony and Univ. of Memphis Symphony. André has worked with Mid-South Chess Camp since 2008, and was a longtime chess club instructor for young students through Shelby County Chess. He plans an engaging curriculum for our beginning and intermediate chess students, incorporating music, art, and history. André holds advanced degrees in music from the Univ. of N. Carolina at Greensboro, where he was Coordinator of Class Piano, and the University of Memphis, receiving the university-wide graduate Meritorious Teaching Award.

Eli Baumann Early Childhood Educator
Eli is a licensed school educator and a choral director in the state of Wisconsin. He has taught for five years in the classroom but has coached k-12 chess clubs for fifteen years. He founded an intercollegiate chess league and has hosted several collegiate chess tournaments. Currently, Eli teaches chess as part of curriculum at his school and is a Class A USCF chess player.

Michael Robertson Class A Player
Michael Robertson started chess late in life playing his first tournament at 24. Since then he has exhibited his chess talent as an admirable Class A player using his enthusiasm for chess to make his goal of Master. Using his love of the game, he now coaches two groups of selected players. Michael is married and has six children but still demonstrates great care, planning and devotion to each coaching session. Currently, he is president of his local chess club, is the West Tennessee Director for the Tennessee Chess Association, and in his time away from chess, works as the manager of an Internet Provider IT support team.