About Sosnick Chess

Sosnick Chess is a 501(c)(3) organization 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 festival featuring a variety of events, including two one-day tournaments, lectures, and game analysis by a Grandmaster, and simultaneous play. 

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. She grew up playing chess and is thrilled to see its resurgence. 

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.

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.

Ethan is the Primary Leader of the Chess Club at UC Davis,  a community of individuals who play chess to improve their skills, as well as promote general interest of the game within the UC Davis student group. UCD students of ALL SKILL LEVELS are encouraged, and the club provides chess tournaments for those who wish to play competitively.

Updates can be found on

Discord server: https://discord.gg/RnXb4QNf48  or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessclubatucdavis 

Judit Sztaray is a proud mom of three brilliant, funny, and hard-working daughters and wife to a distinguished Chemistry Professor at the University of the Pacific.

Judit entered the world of chess more than ten years ago, and today she holds the titles of National Tournament Director and International Arbiter. She works with several organizations as an arbiter and advisor, including Chess.com, Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club, King’s Land Chess, and more. She has served as chief arbiter for several prestigious events and is especially excited to ensure that this tournament is broadcasted online, making it accessible to fans everywhere.