[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE UNITED STATES CHESS TEAM

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the remarkable 
accomplishments of the U.S. Chess Olympiad team. Widely considered to 
be the pinnacle of international chess, Chess Olympiad is a biennial 
competition organized by the World Chess Federation where teams from 
all over the world gather to compete. This year, over 175 nations and 
territories in attendance were represented at the Olympiad.
  For the first time since 1976, the U.S. team emerged from a talented 
and crowded field to claim victory and cement its spot at the top of 
the chess world. The team was led by U.S. champion Grandmaster Fabiano 
Caruana, who won a bronze medal in the individual competition, and 
boasted a strong lineup featuring 3 of the top 10 players in the world. 
Grandmaster Caruana, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, Grandmaster Wesley 
So, Grandmaster Ray Robson, Grandmaster Samuel Shankland, team captain 
International Master John Donaldson, and coach Grandmaster Aleksandr 
Lenderman dedicating themselves to becoming the best in the world, and 
represented the United States with honor and pride at the 42nd Chess 
Olympiad.
  I am proud to say that Fabiano Caruana has partnered with the Liberty 
Science Center in my home State of New Jersey to bring chess to a new 
generation of students across the State. As the visiting grandmaster 
and ``Chess Rules!'' ambassador, Caruana works with the Liberty Science 
Center to improve children's concentration, critical thinking, memory, 
and analytic skills in a fun and engaging way through the game of 
chess. I am pleased that Grandmaster Caruana's first stop upon 
returning to the U.S. will be an event at Liberty Science Center to 
celebrate the U.S. victory and continue the important work that he has 
been doing.
  Let me conclude by again congratulating the U.S. Chess Olympiad team, 
and wishing all of its members continued success in the future.
  Thank you.

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