Thirteen year-old Alex Lenderman of New York, co-winner of the K-8 section and winner of the Individual Blitz tournament at the 2003 National Junior High Championship in Kissimmee, Florida, has scored his first IM norm at the First Saturday IM Chess Tournament in Budapest, Hungary.

Alex, with a 2219 FIDE rating, was the second lowest rated player in the 14 person round-robin tournament. The tournament consists of 5 IMs, 3 FMs and 6 FIDE rated players. Alex won his last round game with the White pieces against FM David Berczes (2393) of Hungary (second highest rated player in the tournament) to secure a first place tie with FM John Nilssen (2382) as well as earning his first IM norm.

His final score was 10-3 and his performance rating was 2513. Alex finished with an incredible 9 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Alex also currently ranks number 2 in the United States in his age group.

The United States Chess Federation, founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization with more than 90,000 members. For more information, please see http://www.uschess.org.