Biography

(left) Luke's joy for competitive Chess began at the ripe age of 4. (center) Luke with Richard Vandenburg, Scholastic Trustee for the Idaho Chess Association.  (right) Luke takes weekly lessons from local master, Dr. Michael Gold.

Luke is a local Boise, Idaho boy who began taking chess lessons at the age of 4. Soon after his lessons started, he was confident enough to play in his first local chess tournament, in which he took 1^st Place. His dedication and commitment to the game became apparent as he started to compete in National events and win. Soon, Luke was playing many levels above his own grade section and becoming a National Champion in both standard and quick chess.  

Luke’s outstanding victories in 2007 enabled him to become the youngest “Class A” player in Idaho history, for which he also holds the #1 title in the State. His recent outstanding performance in adult chess tournaments throughout the country have convinced many that Luke will be one of the strongest chess players ever produced in the United States. His recent victories over two Master-Class players in Las Vegas (see details of the games posted on "Achievements" page) only serve to strengthen his position as one of the greatest junior players in the world.

Luke is also an outstanding academic student, who was the youngest ever (at the age of 8) to be accepted into the prestigious Treasure Valley Math and Science Center in Boise. He scored straight A’s in all of his subjects this past year (Accelerated Algebra, Conceptual Physics, and Introduction to Research).  Luke also attained the #1 score in the  2010 Rocky Mountain Talent Search (a 7-state region of the Northwest), sponsored by the University of Denver.

Luke’s additional hobbies include tennis, reading and learning to play the violin.