KibBlitzing with the National High School & Denker Champion
FM Daniel Yeager

Daniel Yeager
Current place of residence: Horsham, PA
Date of Birth: June 25, 1991
USCF Rating as of 10/17/08: 2343
WCL Grand Prix Points: 41.667
WCL Junior Grand Prix Points: 40

Photo Credit: Dan Yeager's Computer
Center, Daniel Yeager

- You won the National High School Championship and the Denker Tournament of High School Champions. Are you the best scholastic chessplayer in the United States?

No.

- Which was more satisfying, winning the National HS Championship or drawing with current U.S. Champion Yury Shulman at the World Open?

The High School Championship. Wins are better than draws!

- What would you cite as your highest chessic achievement to date?

Beating my first grandmaster.

- Does chess help strengthen one's academic abilities?

I guess it's possible but I don't really think so.

- If you hadn't learned to play chess, what would you have done instead?

I would have been a professional tennis player.

- One of your early coaches was NM Dan Heisman. Has he given you any piece of advice about chess or life that has stuck with you?

When you see a winning move, you should think longer to make sure it actually wins, because if it does, you won't need the time.

- What has been the greatest blessing (and the greatest curse!) that chess has given you?

Blessing: scholarship elgibility and satisfaction.
Curse: less time for living real life.

- Do you enjoy bughouse or any other chess variants?

Bughouse only... I like the fact that its always important to move fast in bughouse.

- What did you think of the "Dan Yeager Has the Right Stuff" black-and-white picture in Chess Life Magazine after you won HS Nationals?

It was fine with me.

- What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Vanilla. ♦

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