Adam Strunk

In an era of thirteen-year-old chess masters, Adam might be considered a late bloomer, since he didn't take chess seriously until he got to high school.  But's he's certainly made up for lost time since. 

While in school he earned a place in the prestigious Warren Chess Scholars program, which recognizes the best young chess talent in Illinois.  And last year he shocked everyone by finishing in a tie for first in the Billy Colias Memorial Tournament, beating a two masters and drawing two others.  “His performance rating from this event was 2456,” said Tournament Director Glenn Panner.