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Awonder Liang
A Liang 
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons  

Number of games in database: 506
Years covered: 2011 to 2025
Last FIDE rating: 2693 (2513 rapid, 2555 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2696
Overall record: +145 -87 =146 (57.7%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 128 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Sicilian (76) 
    B51 B30 B52 B47 B42
 Ruy Lopez (36) 
    C65 C78 C85 C84 C95
 Caro-Kann (23) 
    B11 B10 B12 B13 B18
 Ruy Lopez, Closed (15) 
    C85 C84 C95 C92 C93
 King's Indian Attack (14) 
    A07 A08
 Sicilian Taimanov (12) 
    B47 B48 B45 B49 B46
With the Black pieces:
 Ruy Lopez (29) 
    C92 C78 C67 C70 C71
 Sicilian (21) 
    B90 B50 B23 B53 B93
 Caro-Kann (21) 
    B12 B13 B11 B18 B10
 King's Indian (19) 
    E62 E81 E71 E60 E73
 Queen's Pawn Game (18) 
    A45 D02 E10 E00 A40
 Giuoco Piano (14) 
    C53 C50
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Caruana vs A Liang, 2022 1/2-1/2
   A Liang vs L Kaufman, 2012 1-0
   A Liang vs Aronian, 2022 1-0
   T Gelashvili vs A Liang, 2017 0-1
   A Liang vs Justin Fink, 2022 1-0
   A Liang vs J Haug, 2017 1-0
   Naroditsky vs A Liang, 2021 0-1
   Niemann vs A Liang, 2022 1/2-1/2
   A Liang vs Z Izoria, 2018 1-0
   A Liang vs D Fernandez, 2011 1-0

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   St. Louis Spring Classic (Group B) (2017)
   Kramnik Challenge (2021)
   SPICE Cup Open (2022)
   United States Championship (2020)
   Pro Chess League (2018)
   US Masters (2024)
   Hasselbacken Open (2016)
   Sunway Sitges Open (2016)
   American Continental (2018)
   Sunway Sitges Open (2018)
   Rilton Cup 2018/19 (2018)
   Sunway Sitges Open (2017)
   World Junior Championship (2018)
   Gibraltar Masters (2017)
   PRO League Group Stage (2019)

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 Grenke Freestyle Open
   Fridman vs A Liang (Apr-20-25) 1/2-1/2, unorthodox
   A Liang vs Carlsen (Apr-20-25) 0-1, unorthodox
   A Liang vs J Rubes (Apr-19-25) 1/2-1/2
   A Liang vs D Dardha (Apr-19-25) 1-0, unorthodox
   S Reimann vs A Liang (Apr-18-25) 0-1

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Awonder Liang
Search Google for Awonder Liang
FIDE player card for Awonder Liang

AWONDER LIANG
(born Apr-09-2003, 22 years old) United States of America

[what is this?]

Grandmaster (2017). Awonder Liang won the World Under-8 Championship (on tiebreaks) at the 2011 World Youth Team Championship in Brazil, winning the FM title for this achievement. In the 2012 Washington International tournament, he became the youngest player to defeat a grandmaster in a tournament game when he beat GM Larry Kaufman at the age of 9 years, 3 months, and 20 days.

In March 2013, he earned the title of USCF Master, making him at that time the youngest to do so, when he reached a USCF rating of over 2200 during the Midwest Open Team Chess Festival. Less than four months later, the USCF awarded him the title of Life Master. In December 2013, he won the World Under-10 Championship.

On November 25, 2015, Liang made his third and final IM norm aged 12 years 7 months and 6 days, setting the record for youngest IM in USA history(1). In July 2016, he finished second in the strongest U.S. Junior Championship ever, behind GM Jeffery Xiong.

Liang scored 7-4 and earned his first GM norm at the Continental Championships held in San Salvador, El Salvador from May 28 to June 5, 2016. In May 2017, he finished first in the St. Louis Spring Classic (Group B) (2017), achieving his second GM norm. At the end of May 2017, he scored 6.5/9 at the Chicago Open, tying for 5th-9th, and secured his third and final GM norm. At less than 14 years and 2 months old, he became one of the youngest grandmasters ever.

Liang tied for 3rd-4th at the U.S. Championship (2022). He won the 2024 World Open by a full point, scoring 8-1 (+8 -1).

References: (1) http://en.chessbase.com/post/awonde... , (2) http://www.uschesschamps.com/2016-u... (scored clear 2nd (behind only Jeffery Xiong who won) overall at the 2016 USA Junior closed championship), (3) Wikipedia article: Awonder Liang

Last updated: 2024-07-16 15:09:18

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 21; games 1-25 of 506  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. J Becerra Rivero vs A Liang 1-0362011112th US OpenB52 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack
2. A Liang vs D Fernandez 1-0292011112th US OpenB83 Sicilian
3. A Liang vs D Gater  0-1332011112th US OpenB96 Sicilian, Najdorf
4. A Liang vs S Vibbert 0-1582012Philadelphia OpenB63 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack
5. J Friedel vs A Liang  1-0252012Washington InternationalE92 King's Indian
6. A Liang vs L Kaufman 1-0372012Washington InternationalC45 Scotch Game
7. Benjamin vs A Liang ½-½482012Washington InternationalB50 Sicilian
8. A Morshedi vs A Liang  0-1402013Chicago OpenB93 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4
9. M Amanov vs A Liang  1-0652013Chicago OpenE60 King's Indian Defense
10. A Liang vs A Chandra  0-1352013Chicago OpenB30 Sicilian
11. D Yang vs A Liang  1-042201341st Annual World OpenE81 King's Indian, Samisch
12. A Liang vs M Panchanathan  0-138201341st Annual World OpenC84 Ruy Lopez, Closed
13. A Liang vs S Homa  ½-½672013St Louis Classic IMB48 Sicilian, Taimanov Variation
14. A Liang vs Xiong  ½-½352013St Louis Classic IMB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
15. A Liang vs L Bregadze  0-1352013St Louis Classic IMB27 Sicilian
16. A Liang vs S E Lurdalen  1-0352014Reykjavik OpenA05 Reti Opening
17. H S Gretarsson vs A Liang  1-0362014Reykjavik OpenE81 King's Indian, Samisch
18. A Ferreira vs A Liang  0-1602014Reykjavik OpenA45 Queen's Pawn Game
19. A Liang vs T Sachdev  0-1372014Reykjavik OpenC45 Scotch Game
20. T Longo vs A Liang  0-1492014Reykjavik OpenA48 King's Indian
21. A Liang vs L Galego  ½-½242014Reykjavik OpenB42 Sicilian, Kan
22. Y Norowitz vs A Liang  1-0332014Reykjavik OpenA45 Queen's Pawn Game
23. A Liang vs M Karlsson  0-1772014Reykjavik OpenD02 Queen's Pawn Game
24. R Frick vs A Liang  0-1322014Reykjavik OpenB92 Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation
25. R Li vs A Liang  1-0292014It 'World Open'B23 Sicilian, Closed
 page 1 of 21; games 1-25 of 506  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Liang wins | Liang loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 4 ·  Later Kibitzing>
May-31-16  waustad: I spoke too soon, the Peruano Emilio Cordova won his game so Liang is tied for second.
Jun-01-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: He wonders why drunks sing his name on New Years Eve?
Jun-02-16  waustad: Even after his loss today to Lenderman, his tpr is 2609. He's played more than enough GMs, so he's still on the path to a GM norm.
Jul-11-16  Luceana: Awonder is a nice kid, and strong player. Although his father is a loudmouth, and a piece of work. Hopefully the father doesn't turn into another Rustam Kamsky, that tries to dominate over the boy.
Jul-17-16  LucB: He came in clear second today at the 2016 US junior closed championship. A fine performance by the youngest player of the group.
Jul-17-16  fisayo123: I saw all the games live. Really impressive chess from the young phenemonem.
May-31-17  cro777: By earning his third and final GM norm at the Chicago Open 2017, Awonder becomes the 2nd youngest American chess grandmaster in history, at 14 years, 1 month, and 20 days.

The 26th Annual Chicago Open was held May 25-29, 2017 in Wheeling, Illinois.

In 2015 Awonder became the youngest US international master in history.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DBHJQDa...

May-31-17  qstone: Congratulations to Awonder!
Jun-01-17  Ironmanth: Bravo, Awonder!
Jun-01-17  fisayo123: Congratulations to the kid.
Jun-01-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  ketchuplover: seconded
Jun-01-17  waustad: Congratulations! There is still some paperwork to do. He still only has one norm listed on the FIDE web site. That often means that they haven't yet filed the paperwork and paid the fee. FIDE jerked Ju Wenjun around for over a year over one signature by a FIDE official if I recall the details correctly. Let's hope that they get through the bureaucracy more rapidly.
Jul-17-17  cro777: GM-elect Awonder Liang is the 2017 US Junior Champion!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DE-VssL...

Jul-18-17  markz: Congrats to Liang the US Junior Champion!
Aug-10-17  cro777: It's now confirmed - Awonder becomes youngest grandmaster in the world!

"In the second presidential board meeting of 2017, FIDE confirmed Awonder Liang's grandmaster title.

This makes the 14-year-old American the 10th youngest grandmaster of all time, and the youngest in the world today."

https://www.chess.com/news/view/awo...

Aug-12-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  ketchuplover: the future of american chess lies in the mind of this youngling
Aug-13-17  ColeTrane: if he decides to stay in chess....no doubt he can do anything he puts his mind to
Feb-09-18  zborris8: This 14 year old just beat Caruana in 15|2. ProChessLeague. PGN (remove the space "6 k1/" in the fen Current Position).

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2018.02.07"]
[White "rednova1729"]
[Black "FabianoCaruana"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[TimeControl "900+2"]
[EndTime "16:48:18 PST"]
[Termination "rednova1729 won by resignation"]
[CurrentPosition "6 [bad FEN: k1/3R3p/8/6B1/8/3pP1PP/5r2/6K1]"]

1.e4 [%clk 0:15:01] e5 [%clk 0:15:01] 2.Nf3 [%clk 0:14:55] Nc6 [%clk 0:15:02] 3.Bb5 [%clk 0:14:56] a6 [%clk 0:15:03] 4.Ba4 [%clk 0:14:56] Nf6 [%clk 0:15:04] 5.O-O [%clk 0:14:57] Be7 [%clk 0:15:05] 6.Re1 [%clk 0:14:57] b5 [%clk 0:15:06] 7.Bb3 [%clk 0:14:58] d6 [%clk 0:15:08] 8.c3 [%clk 0:14:58] O-O [%clk 0:15:09] 9.h3 [%clk 0:14:59] Na5 [%clk 0:15:11] 10.Bc2 [%clk 0:15:00] c5 [%clk 0:15:12] 11.d4 [%clk 0:14:59] Nd7 [%clk 0:15:14] 12.d5 [%clk 0:14:54] Nb6 [%clk 0:15:13] 13.Nbd2 [%clk 0:14:48] Bd7 [%clk 0:15:14] 14.b3 [%clk 0:13:46] c4 [%clk 0:15:13] 15.Nf1 [%clk 0:13:25] Nb7 [%clk 0:15:07] 16.Be3 [%clk 0:13:20] cxb3 [%clk 0:14:25] 17.axb3 [%clk 0:13:19] a5 [%clk 0:14:26] 18.Bd3 [%clk 0:12:45] a4 [%clk 0:12:54] 19.b4 [%clk 0:10:51] Rc8 [%clk 0:12:21] 20.Qe2 [%clk 0:10:43] Nc4 [%clk 0:12:09] 21.Bc1 [%clk 0:10:38] Qe8 [%clk 0:10:30] 22.N3d2 [%clk 0:09:56] Nb6 [%clk 0:10:21] 23.Nb1 [%clk 0:09:56] f5 [%clk 0:09:41] 24.exf5 [%clk 0:09:02] Bxf5 [%clk 0:09:05] 25.Bxb5 [%clk 0:08:21] Qg6 [%clk 0:09:04] 26.Be3 [%clk 0:08:22] Nxd5 [%clk 0:08:47] 27.Ng3 [%clk 0:06:51] Bxb1 [%clk 0:05:17] 28.Bc4 [%clk 0:06:50] Be4 [%clk 0:05:18] 29.Qa2 [%clk 0:06:42] Kh8 [%clk 0:04:47] 30.Bxd5 [%clk 0:06:34] Bxd5 [%clk 0:04:48] 31.Qxd5 [%clk 0:06:36] Nd8 [%clk 0:04:47] 32.Rxa4 [%clk 0:06:10] Ne6 [%clk 0:04:46] 33.b5 [%clk 0:05:45] Rxc3 [%clk 0:04:23] 34.b6 [%clk 0:04:57] Rd3 [%clk 0:03:47] 35.Qb5 [%clk 0:04:36] Qe8 [%clk 0:02:57] 36.Qxe8 [%clk 0:04:12] Rxe8 [%clk 0:02:57] 37.Rb1 [%clk 0:04:13] Nc5 [%clk 0:02:46] 38.Ra7 [%clk 0:03:59] d5 [%clk 0:01:53] 39.b7 [%clk 0:02:41] Nxb7 [%clk 0:01:24] 40.Rbxb7 [%clk 0:02:20] Bf8 [%clk 0:01:25] 41.Nf5 [%clk 0:02:03] d4 [%clk 0:01:25] 42.Bg5 [%clk 0:02:04] e4 [%clk 0:01:05] 43.Nxg7 [%clk 0:01:53] Rd1+ [%clk 0:01:05] 44.Kh2 [%clk 0:01:52] Bd6+ [%clk 0:01:04] 45.g3 [%clk 0:01:53] Rf8 [%clk 0:01:05] 46.Rf7 [%clk 0:00:59] Rxf7 [%clk 0:00:39] 47.Rxf7 [%clk 0:01:01] Kg8 [%clk 0:00:40] 48.Rd7 [%clk 0:00:58] e3 [%clk 0:00:35] 49.Nh5 [%clk 0:00:39] Be5 [%clk 0:00:30] 50.fxe3 [%clk 0:00:36] d3 [%clk 0:00:19] 51.Nf6+ [%clk 0:00:28] Bxf6 [%clk 0:00:19] 52.Bxf6 [%clk 0:00:30] Rf1 [%clk 0:00:19] 53.Bg5 [%clk 0:00:20] Rf2+ [%clk 0:00:08] 54.Kg1 [%clk 0:00:20] 1-0

Apr-25-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  ketchuplover: Don't let those fish off the hook young man
May-19-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ron: Victory by Awonder Liang against one of the best rapid players here:

Nakamura vs A Liang, 2018

Jul-05-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Awonder Liang receives the Frank P. Samford Jr. Chess Fellowship (alongside Sevian).

http://www.telegram.com/news/201807...

Mar-31-19  wordfunph: 2019 U.S. Championship

So - Liang

0-1

i love you, Liang!

Apr-01-19  Pulo y Gata: Awonder made history in that game. It was the very first time a 2700 player was pulverised by a 15-year old boy in standard chess.
Apr-01-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  chancho: Ten years ago, Awonder Liang was about five years old and taking his first steps at learning the game of Chess.

Ten years ago, Wesley So, 14 years old, youngest GM at the time, playing in the World Cup.

<“How did it get so late so soon?” ― Dr. Seuss>

Apr-02-19  wordfunph: Now an honorary citizen of the Philippines
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