Rochelle Ballantyne

Rochelle Ballantyne
Country United States
Born 1995 (age 19–20)
FIDE rating 1927 (July 2012)
Peak rating 1954 (January 2012)

Rochelle Ballantyne (born 1995) is an African American chess player. She is best known for appearing in the 2012 documentary Brooklyn Castle. Her USCF rating is 2062, putting her in the 99th percentile of American junior players.[1] Her FIDE rating is 1912,[2] with her highest rating achieved being 1954 in January 2012. Ballantyne is currently the African-American female in the United States who is closest to achieving the chess title of "Master." According to the USCF's rating system, she is currently an "Expert" or "Candidate Master."

Biography

Raised in New York City, Rochelle Ballantyne graduated from Intermediate School 318 (IS 318) and, later, Brooklyn Technical High School. During her freshman year (9th grade) at Brooklyn Tech, she won the 2012 All-Girls National Chess Championships, and was consequently awarded a full college scholarship to the University of Texas at Dallas;[3] her triumph was featured in Brooklyn Castle. She later received a full scholarship to Stanford University, which she is currently attending.[4]

Chess

In 2008, at the age of 13, Ballantyne played against Garry Kasparov in a game known as "Harlem Shake".[5][6]

In media

Ballantyne has appeared as herself in one feature film and two TV series.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "USCF MSA – Member Details (General)". The United States Chess Federation. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  2. ↑ "FIDE Chess ratings". Ratings.fide.com. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  3. ↑ http://www.uschess.org/content/view/10322/585/
  4. ↑ http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/10/01/ballantyne-seeks-13-wycc-bid-in-uae/
  5. ↑ "Garry Kasparov vs Rochelle Ballantyne (2008) "Harlem Shake"". Chessgames.com. 2008-09-28. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  6. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/crosswords/chess/12chess.html
  7. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5332220/?ref_=tt_ov_st

External links