GMMackenzie Molner

Mackenzie Molner learned chess at summer camp at seven and developed with coach Michael Khodarkovsky. He combined tournament play with varsity soccer at Montclair High School. In 2004 he shared first place in the Denker Tournament of High School Champions. While attending New York University, he represented the United States at the 2007 World Junior Championship and earned the international master title. He won the New Jersey state championship in 2008. A share of first at the 2013 U.S. Open brought his final grandmaster norm, though Joshua Friedel won their playoff for the championship. Molner has also worked as a chess instructor.