About Sosnick Chess

Sosnick Chess is a 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in memory of Stephen Sosnick, a passionate chess player and professor at UC Davis. Our mission is to honor his legacy by promoting and advancing the game of chess. We host an annual weekend tournament that offers a variety of events, including lectures by a Grandmaster, simultaneous play, and multiple tournament options. Sosnick Chess is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for chess enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. Our events are designed to encourage the growth and development of the chess community while honoring Stephen Sosnick's love for the game.

Elika Rosenbaum is the festival chair with a history of organizing events.  She grew up playing chess. 

John Langreck is a CPA practicing in Sacramento and a United States Chess Federation (USCF) National Master (NM).  He was a member of the Armed Forces championship chess team and 5 U.S. amateur championship teams.  He has coached numerous students from beginners to experts.

Mr. John McCumiskey has been active in the chess world for many years, playing tournament chess since 1977 and directing chess tournaments since 1979.  Today, he is a USCF National Tournament Director and FIDE International Arbiter.  Mr. McCumiskey is a retired US Army Corps of Engineers information technology security specialist.  Since 2006, he has been teaching Social Science and Mathematics at CK McClatchy High School in Sacramento.  Mr. McCumiskey has been married to his wife, LaVerne, for over 43 years.

John Donaldson was awarded the International Master title in 1983 and has achieved two Grandmaster norms, narrowly missing a third by just half a point at the 2000 Paul Keres Memorial in Vancouver. With a peak USCF rating of 2601 in May 1990 and a peak FIDE rating of 2467 in March 2004, his accomplishments reflect a distinguished chess career. As the captain of 14 U.S. Olympiad teams and the author of over 40 chess books, John has made significant contributions to the chess community. Additionally, he served as the Director of the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club in San Francisco from 1998 to 2018, cementing his legacy as a leader and advocate for the game.

Michael Aigner is a US Chess National Master and FIDE Trainer who qualified for and played at the 2007 US Championship. He has won tournaments in Sacramento, the Bay Area and Las Vegas. In addition to pushing pawns, Michael coaches the next generation of chess masters. Check out his personal website at fpawn.com.

Grandmaster Joel Benjamin became the youngest national master at age 13, breaking the record previously held by Bobby Fischer. He went on to win the U.S. Championship on three occasions and competed on six U.S. Olympiad teams. He was the official grandmaster consultant for IBM’s Deep Blue computer, which defeated World Champion Garry Kasparov  in 1997. Order his latest book here.

Danielle Sosnick adds her expertise in web design and is the administrator for SosnickChess.com.