When Maurice Ashley became a grandmaster, he was the first USA federation Black player to achieve that title. Brewington Hardaway, whose father is African American, is the second USA federation Black player to become a grandmaster.
At SuperNationals VIII, Hardaway finished with 6 points out of seven games. That score placed Hardaway in a seven-way tie for first place in the K-12 Championship section.
In round 2 of SuperNationals VIII, Hardaway won against Puwit Sky Moerlien. Moerlien was born in 2007, so he is about two years older than Hardaway, who was born in 2009. Moerlien finished with 3 out of 7 points.
Midwest Tournament Opportunities
Thus far in history, Conrad Holt is the only Kansan to become a grandmaster. Puwit Sky Moerlien is from Kansas. Will Moerlien someday become the second grandmaster from Kansas?
In August of 2023, Moerlien drew Hardaway at the U.S. Open in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In June of 2024, Moerlien won the Nebraska Chess Hall of Fame Champions Celebration, ahead of an International Master, a FIDE Master, and national masters.
On May 31–June 1, 2025 is the Nebraska Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary Celebration of the 1975 U.S. Open. The prize fund of $11,200 is guaranteed, about the same size as the prize fund ($12,150 guaranteed) for the tournament that Moerlien won. Both the 2024 and the 2025 Nebraska tournaments are at the same hotel in Lincoln that was the site of the 1975 U.S. Open.
SuperNationals VIII
Although 6,000 players were expected at SuperNationals VIII, as mentioned in my previous SparkChess article, Chess Life Online’s JJ Lang reported, “Overall, 4,610 players are competing in the main tournament sections this weekend, representing 45 states (plus Washington, D.C. and 73 foreign players).” For the results of SuperNationals VIII, which concluded on May 11, 2025, see this article on Chess Life Online.
Rated highest in the K–12 Championship section was Grandmaster Brewington Hardaway. In Round 2, he defeated Puwit Sky Moerlien.
The first World Chess Champion was Wilhelm Steinitz. “The hardest game to win is a won game” is a quote attributed to the second World Chess Champion, Emanuel Lasker.
How did Hardaway win his winning position against Moerlien?
