(Crossville, TN) The U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) held its' Annual USCF Awards luncheon at this years 2007 U.S. Open Chess Championship at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The luncheon took place on Saturday, August 4 with the following award recipients accepting:

Chess City of the Year (1983): Stillwater, Oklahoma (accepted by Frank and Jim Berry).

Chess Club of the Year (1999): Atlanta Chess Center.

Committee of the Year (1982): 2007 Financial Review Committee.

Distinguished Service Award (1979): Fred Gruenberg of Illinois.

Friend of the USCF: GM Garry Kasparov.

Gold Koltanowski Medal (1979): Frank K. Berry of Oklahoma for his contribution to the 2007 U.S. Championship.

Grandmaster (GM) of the Year (1997): GM Gata Kamsky of New York.

Frank J. Marshall Ambassador Award (1994): GM Gregory Kaidanov of Kentucky.

Meritorious Service Award (1980): Richard Shorman of California, John Hilbert of New York, Dan Heisman of Pennsylvania, and Grant Perks of Ohio.

Organizer of the Year (1994): Sevan Muradian of Illinois.

Outstanding Career Achievement (1986): Fred and Carol Kleist of Washington, Gordon Barrett of Nevada, Stephen Dann of Massachusetts.

Scholastic Services Award (1994): GM Susan Polgar of New York and Brownsville, Texas School District.

Society of Chess Mates (1998): Donna Gruenberg of Illinois and Jan Rogers of Georgia.

Special Services Award (1983): Steve Doyle of New Jersey, Ernie Schlich of Virginia.

Tournament Director of the Year (2004): Michael Atkins of Virginia.

These awards are determined each year by the USCF Executive Board. The year offered in parenthesis represents the year this award was started.)

The United States Chess Federation (USCF), founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is now headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee. USCF 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 over 80,000 members. For additional information on the USCF see: http://www.uschess.org.