Larry Christiansen

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Larry Christiansen at the 2002 U.S. Chess Championships in Seattle, Washington

Larry M. Christiansen (b. June 27, 1956) is a chess grandmaster who grew up in Modesto, California. He was U.S. champion in 1980, 1983, and 2002. He describes his playing style as "aggressive, tactical" and lists his favorite opening as Sämisch King's Indian.

Christiansen showed exceptional strength at an early age. In 1971, he became the first junior high school student to win the National High School Championship. He went on to win three invitational U.S. Junior Championships in 1973, 1974, and 1975. In 1977, at age 21, he became an International Grandmaster without first having been an International Master, an accomplishment shared by only a handful of others.

He is the author of two popular chess books that showcase his aggressive style: Storming the Barricades (2000) and Rocking the Ramparts (2004).

Larry is also renowned for his quick wit and humor, as well as his enthusiasm for teaching students.

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Preceded by Lubomir Kavalek	United States Chess Champion 1980 (with Walter Browne and Larry Evans)	Succeeded by Walter Browne and Yasser Seirawan
Preceded by Walter Browne and Yasser Seirawan	United States Chess Champion 1983 (with Walter Browne and Roman Dzindzichashvili)	Succeeded by Lev Alburt
Preceded by Joel Benjamin, Alexander Shabalov, and Yasser Seirawan	United States Chess Champion 2002	Succeeded by Alexander Shabalov