Exemplary Contribution to Connecticut Chess

Awarded: 2021
ROBERT CYR
Years Active: 1987 - present

• Connecticut State Chess Association Historian since 2016
• New Britain Chess Club Historian since 2005
• New Britain Chess Club Vice President 2003-2010
• Event Organizer and Local Tournament Director at NBCC
• Amateur Player, Enthusiast and Promoter

Awarded: 2022
GERT HILHORST
Years Active: 2006 - present

• Connecticut State Chess Association Webmaster since 2015
• Connecticut State Chess Association Treasurer 2021-2023
• Simsbury Library Chess Club Coach and Organizer since 2006
• Simsbury High and Middle School Coach and Organizer 2011-2023
• New Britain Chess Club Webmaster since 2016
• New England Chess Association Clearinghouse Coordinator since 2023
• Scholastic Event Organizer and Volunteer in northern Connecticut and at the state level
• Amateur Player, Enthusiast and Promoter

MEMBERS

Inducted: 2023
ROBERT ROY
Years Active: 1975 - 2022

• Recipient of CSCA Award for Exemplary Contribution to Connecticut Chess 2021
• Connecticut State Chess Association President 1984-1993, 1994-1995, 1996-1997, 1998-1999
• Journalist and contributor at Chess Horizons
• Event Organizer and Senior Tournament Director
• Coventry Chess Club Owner/Organizer
• Connecticut Chess Magazine Owner/Chief Editor
• Amateur Player and Enthusiast

Inducted: 2023
CHRISTOPHER POTTS
Years Active: 1992 - present

• Recipient of CSCA Award for Exemplary Contribution to Connecticut Chess 2021
• Volunteer Coach and Organizer for 27 years at the Norwalk Public Library Norwalk Knights Chess Club, 1992-2019
• Amateur Player and Enthusiast

Inducted: 2023
IM KAPIL CHANDRAN
Years Active: 2004 - present

• Only Connecticut player to win a National Invitational Tournament
• Connecticut Record Seven-time Scholastic Champion
• Winner Denker Tournament of State High School Champions 2013
• Seven-time Connecticut Scholastic Champion 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014
• Two-time Barber (K-8) National Invitational Nominee 2011 and 2012
• Two-time Denker (HS) National Invitational Nominee 2013 and 2014
• International Master (inducted as FM)

Inducted: 2023
GM SERGEY KUDRIN
Years Active: 2004 - present

• Connecticut Record Six Consecutive Years as State Champion
• Six-time Connecticut State Champion 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009
• Three-time Connecticut State Senior Champion 2020, 2022 and 2023
• Connecticut State Senior 65+ Champion 2025
• Grandmaster, Coach and Lecturer

Inducted: 2023
BEATRICE LOW
Years Active: 2011 - 2023

• Connecticut Record Six Years as National Invitational Nominee
• Connecticut Record Four Years as State Girls Champion
• Four-time Connecticut State Girls Champion 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020
• Six-time Connecticut Haring/Girls Nominee and Representative 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021
• Scholastic Player

Inducted: 2023
NM HANON RUSSELL
Years Active: ____ - 2022

• Connecticut State Rapid Champion 1992
• Connecticut-based Chess Publisher and Entrepreneur
• Connecticut-based Chess Author and Editor
• National Master

Inducted: 2023/p
NICK STEVENS
Years Active: ____ - ____

• Connecticut State Chess Association Events Coordinator 1980s
• Hartford Chess Club Founder and President ____-____
• Event Organizer and Senior Tournament Director
• Amateur Player, Enthusiast and Promoter

Inducted: 2023/p
NM JAMES BOLTON
Years Active: ____ - ____

• Four-time Connecticut State Champion 1953, 1957, 1974 and 1993 (Open)
• Chess Advocate
• National Master

Inducted: 2023/p
BORTIL CLAREUS
Years Active: c. 1930-1945

• Three-time Connecticut State Champion 1935, 1939 and 1940
• Second player in Connecticut chess history to win at least three State Championships
• Amateur Player

Inducted: 2023/p
ROBERT MITCHELL
Years Active: c. 1930-1950

• Four-time Connecticut State Champion 1934, 1938, 1939 and 1948
• First player in Connecticut chess history to win at least three and, thereafter, four State Championships
• Amateur Player

Inducted: 2023/p
NM Dr. JOSEPH PLATZ
Years Active: c. 1945-1975

• Connecticut State Chess Association Founding Member and President 1967-1971
• Two-time Connecticut State Champion 1955 and 1960
• National Master

Inducted: 2023/p
ARKADIJS STRAZDINS
Years Active: 1951 - 2007

• Connecticut Record Four Consecutive Years as State Blitz Champion
• Four-time Connecticut State Blitz Champion 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979
• New Britain Chess Club President 1970-2001
• Event and Club Organizer and Administrator
• Amateur Player, Coach, Role Model and Enthusiast

Inducted: 2023/p
THOMAS HARTMAYER
Years Active: c. 1970 - 2016

• Connecticut State Chess Association Board Member 2007-2016
• University of Connecticut Chess Club Organizer and Tournament Director
• UCONN School of Engineering Scholastic Tournaments co-Organizer
• UCONN School of Engineering High School Scholarship Tournament co-Organizer
• Local Tournament Director, nicknamed by players via the German Herr Direktor for his devotion to directing chess events
• Amateur Player, Enthusiast, Advocate and Coach

Inducted: 2024
FREDERICK TOWNSEND
Years Active: c. 1960 - 2022

• United State Chess Federation Vice President circa 1972-1974, involved in the negotiations of the Fischer v. Karpov World Championship Match
• Connecticut State Chess Association President at various times in the 1970s and early 1980s and 1999-2001
• Event Organizer
• Connecticut's only National Tournament Director

Inducted: 2024
FM RICHARD BAUER
Years Active: 1970 - present

• Connecticut Record Eight State Champion Titles
• Connecticut State Champion 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2001
• Connecticut State Blitz Champion 1992 and 1993
• FIDE Master, Author, Coach, Volunteer

Inducted: 2024
NM EDWARD "TED" McHUGH, III
Years Active: 1991 - 2022

• Connecticut Record Fourteen Total State Champion Titles
• Connecticut Record Ten State Blitz Champion Titles
• Connecticut State Blitz Champion 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018
• Connecticut State Champion 2003 and 2017
• Connecticut State Rapid Champion 1996 and 2015
• National Master

Inducted: 2024
IM MAXIMILLIAN LU
Years Active: 2011 - present

• Youngest U.S. player to reach the status of Master at the time of title (2015)
• Three-time Connecticut Scholastic Champion 2014, 2023 and 2024
• Two-time Barber (K-8/6-8) National Invitational Nominee 2016 and 2020
• Two-time Denker (HS) National Invitational Nominee 2023 and 2024
• 7-time National Scholastic Champion
• 3-time North American Youth Champion
• 3-time Pan-American Youth Champion
• Winner Weeramantry National Blitz Tournament of State Champions 2024
• International Master

Inducted: 2024
NM JASMINE SU
Years Active: 2017 - present

• First Connecticut player to be selected for the National Junior Championships
• First female player to win Connecticut Championship
• First female player to serve as Nominee and Connecticut player to place at Barber National Invitational
• Connecticut State Open Champion 2023
• Selectee to National Junior Girls Championship 2024
• Winner U16 Section at KCF All-Girls Nationals 2025
• Two-time Connecticut State Women's Champion 2019 and 2023
• Two-time Connecticut Middle School Champion 2023 and 2024
• Two-time Barber (6-8) National Invitational Nominee 2023 and 2024
• Tied for first/third on tie breaks at Barber Invitationals 2023
• Two-time Rockefeller (K-5) National Invitational Nominee 2020 and 2021
• National Master