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Joel Benjamin facts for kids

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For the Broadway singer and dancer, see Joel Benjamin (singer).
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Joel Benjamin
Benjamin Joel.jpg
Full name Joel Lawrence Benjamin
Country United States
Born (1964-03-11) March 11, 1964 (age 61)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Title Grandmaster (1986)
FIDE rating 2506 (August 2025)
Peak rating 2620 (July 1993)
Peak ranking No. 29 (July 1987)

Joel Lawrence Benjamin (born March 11, 1964) is an American chess player and author. He holds the special title of Grandmaster (GM). In 1998, the U.S. Chess Federation voted him "Grandmaster of the Year."

Joel Benjamin: A Chess Champion

Early Life and Chess Journey

Joel Benjamin grew up in Brooklyn, New York City. He lived in the Marine Park neighborhood. He went to PS 222, where he was in a class for "intellectually gifted children." Today, he lives in New Jersey with his wife, Deborah, and their two children, Aidan and Amy.

He studied history at Yale University and graduated in 1985. Joel started playing chess at a young age. He became the youngest-ever U.S. chess master when he was just 13 years old. This broke a record that was once held by the famous chess player Bobby Fischer. Later, Stuart Rachels and then Samuel Sevian broke Joel's record.

Amazing Chess Achievements

As a young player, Joel won many national championships. He won the National Elementary championship in 1976. He also won the National Junior High championship in 1978. Then, he won the National High School championship in both 1980 and 1981.

In 1980, he won the U.S. Junior Championship. That same year, he earned the International Master title. He won the U.S. Junior Championship again in 1982. In 1985, he won the U.S. Open Chess Championship. Joel earned the top title of Grandmaster in 1986.

He became the U.S. Chess Champion three times. He shared the title in 1987 with Nick de Firmian. He won it again by himself in 1997 and in 2000. Joel also won the Saint John Open I in 1988. In 2000, he won the Canadian Open Chess Championship. He placed first at the QVB Chess Festival in Sydney in 1999.

Joel Benjamin was honored for his great career. He was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame in Miami on May 2, 2008. He was the youngest person ever to be added to the Hall of Fame.

Joel's Unique Chess Style

Joel Benjamin is known for his interesting way of playing chess. He often uses "offbeat openings." These are less common ways to start a game. One example is the Black Knights' Tango. He is also very good at turning even tiny advantages into a win. This shows his skill and cleverness on the chessboard.

He tied for first place in the 1986 and 1987 U.S. Masters Chess Championships.

Beyond the Chessboard

Joel Benjamin is also a talented writer. He co-authored a book called Unorthodox Openings in 1987. He often writes for Chess Life magazine and other chess publications. He is also a regular commentator for the Internet Chess Club. He often presents their Game of the Week webcast. From 1991 to 1994, he was the main editor and founder of a magazine called Chess Chow.

His book American Grandmaster: Four Decades of Chess Adventures tells the story of his chess career. His most recent book is Chessboard Combat: The Give and Take of Chess Tactics. He also writes articles for the USCF website.

Joel Benjamin worked with IBM as a special consultant. He helped with the Deep Blue chess computer. This computer famously defeated World Champion Garry Kasparov in 1997.

Joel has also appeared in movies. He was in Searching for Bobby Fischer and Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine. Today, he coaches the chess team at the Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School.

Notable Chess Games

This section uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Benjamin vs. Gufeld, Hawaii 1998
Solid white.svg a b c d e f g h Solid white.svg
8 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black rook {{{square}}} black rook {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 8
7 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black pawn 7
6 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white knight {{{square}}} white queen 6
5 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black queen {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white rook {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black knight {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 5
4 {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 4
3 {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king 3
2 {{{square}}} white bishop {{{square}}} white bishop {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn 2
1 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white king {{{square}}} black king 1
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Final position

Joel Benjamin won a great game against Grandmaster Eduard Gufeld. This game was played at the U.S. Open in Hawaii in 1998.

Benjamin vs. Gufeld
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Qd2 e6 8.Be2 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3 Qa5 11.Bb2 Rd8 12.Rfd1 b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.a3 Bb7 15.b4 Qb6 16.Qe1 Ba6 17.Qf1 Rab8 18.Rac1 d5 19.exd5 exd5 20.Na4 bxa4 21.Bxa6 Ne4 22.Bd3 Bd6 23.Rc2 Bf4 24.g3 Bh6 25.Re2 f5 26.Qh3 Rf8 27.Bb1 Rbe8 28.Ba2 Ne7 29.Ne5 Qb5 30.Rxe4 fxe4 31.Qe6+ Kh8 32.Qxh6 Nf5 33.Ng6+ Kg8 34.Rxd5 1–0

In January 2025, Joel Benjamin played a special 8-game match online. He played against a computer chess engine called Leela Chess Zero. In this match, Joel received a "knight odds." This means the computer started without one of its knights, giving Joel an advantage. Joel won the match, with two wins, one loss, and five draws. Grandmaster Matthew Sadler gave live commentary on YouTube during the match.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Joel Benjamin para niños

  • List of Jewish chess players
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