Jennifer Yu Biography: Age, Net Worth, Height, Chess Titles, Career, Championships

Jennifer Runhe Yu professionally known as Jennifer Yu is an accomplished American chess woman grandmaster, celebrated for her remarkable achievements as a two-time U.S. Women’s Chess Champion.

Her strategic brilliance and dedication to the game have established her as a prominent figure in the global chess community, inspiring young players with her consistent excellence.

Profile

• Full Name: Jennifer Runhe Yu
• Stage Name: Jennifer Yu
• Born: February 1, 2002
• Age: 23 years old
• Birthplace: Ithaca, New York, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Chess Woman Grandmaster, Student
• Height: 5 feet 6 inches
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Yu
• Siblings: One younger brother
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $1 million USD

Early Life and Education

Jennifer Yu was born on February 1, 2002, in Ithaca, New York, to parents of Chinese descent, Mr. and Mrs. Yu.

Raised in Ashburn, Virginia, alongside her younger brother, she discovered chess in first grade through an after-school program.

Jennifer attended Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, graduating in 2019.

She is currently a student at Harvard University, majoring in economics, and is expected to graduate in 2025.

Her Chinese-American heritage and Christian faith contribute to her grounded approach to both academics and chess.

Career

Jennifer Yu began competing in tournaments at age seven in 2009, reaching a USCF rating of 2100 by 2013.

In 2014, she won the gold medal in the Girls U12 section at the World Youth Chess Championship in Durban, South Africa, becoming the first American female to do so in 27 years.

She earned the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title in 2013, Woman International Master (WIM) in 2016, FIDE Master (FM) in 2017, and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) in 2018, with a peak FIDE rating of 2379 in February 2018.

Jennifer won the Virginia State Closed Championship in 2015, becoming its youngest and first female champion, and secured the National Girls Tournament of Champions in 2014 (tied), 2015 (tied), and 2016 (outright).

She represented the U.S. at the 2017 Women’s World Team Chess Championship and the 2018 Women’s Chess Olympiad, earning an individual bronze medal on board five.

In 2019, she dominated the U.S. Women’s Chess Championship with a 10/11 score, defeating strong players like Anna Zatonskih and securing the title with a round to spare.

In 2021, she competed in the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Sochi, Russia, upsetting Klaudia Kulon in the first round but losing to Dinara Saduakassova in the second.

Jennifer won the 2022 U.S. Girls’ Junior Chess Championship after tiebreakers against Sophie Morris-Suzuki and Thalia Cervantes Landeiro, and later that year, she claimed her second U.S. Women’s Championship title by defeating Irina Krush in a tiebreaker.

Awards and Nominations

• 2014: World Youth Chess Championship, Girls U12, Gold Medal.
• 2014, 2015: National Girls Tournament of Champions, Tied for First Place.
• 2016: National Girls Tournament of Champions, First Place.
• 2017: World Junior Girls’ Championship, Bronze Medal.
• 2018: Women’s Chess Olympiad, Individual Bronze Medal (Board Five).
• 2019: U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, First Place (10/11).
• 2022: U.S. Girls’ Junior Chess Championship, First Place.
• 2022: U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, First Place.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @jenniferyuchess
• Facebook Handle: Jennifer Yu
• Twitter Handle: @Jennifer_Yu1

Personal Life

Jennifer Yu, 23, is single with no children.

Residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while attending Harvard University, she balances her academic pursuits with her chess career.

Jennifer enjoys mentoring young players through initiatives like Impact Chess, where she serves as an advisor, sharing insights from her journey.

Her hobbies include reading and staying active, and she maintains a low-profile yet approachable persona, often engaging with the chess community through webinars and events.

Her self-described inconsistency in performance, noted in a 2019 ChessBase interview, reflects her ongoing efforts to refine her openings and time management.

Net Worth

Jennifer Yu has an estimated net worth of $1 million USD.

Her income primarily comes from tournament winnings, including significant prizes from the 2019 U.S. Women’s Championship ($25,000) and 2022 U.S. Women’s Championship ($30,000), as well as sponsorships and coaching.

Her role as an advisor for Impact Chess and appearances at events like the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference contribute modestly to her earnings.

While her net worth is lower than some peers due to her focus on academics, her achievements ensure financial stability.