What is the Warren Junior Program?

The Warren Program was founded over 30 years ago by former ICA President Helen Warren.

The mission of the Warren Junior Scholar Program is to discover and develop the highest-potential youth chess players in Illinois, in order to be competitive on a national and international stage.

Players chosen for the Warren program have innate talent, and the intensive mentoring provided by the program gives them opportunity and reason to work hard. Through in-depth study and competition in chess, students acquire skills and habits that prepare them to succeed in many fields as adults, including high-level analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, discipline, perseverance, responsible decision-making and the ability to overcome setbacks and learn from mistakes.

In 2015, the Warren Junior Rising Stars platform was added as a talent developmental pool to identify and prepare youth players who with some nuturing may matriculate into the Scholar Program.

The current Warren Junior Program Committee consists of the following individuals:

• Sevan A. Muradian - Program Director
• Carl Dolson - ICA President (Executive Board Liaison)
• Paul Carey
• Charles Craigmile
• IM Florin Felecan
• Kris Harihara
• NM Pete Karagianis
• Badri Mangalam
• Kevin Taylor
• Vito Vitkauskas