Rachael Li

One of three teenagers competing in the event, 16-year-old Rachael Li got off to an early start, learning to play chess when she was only four years old. Five years later, in 2019, she became the youngest American female to attain the title of Master (2200 rating), a record that still stands.

Li likes to move the pieces as evidenced by the over 300 tournaments she has played in her career despite taking a break from the game for three years between the summers of 2020 and 2023. Since then, Li has shown steady improvement and her current rating makes her the 69th rated woman in the world and the tenth under 21.

Among her recent achievements are eliminating eight-time U.S. Women’s Chess Champion Irina Krush in the women’s section of the 2026 American Cup and placing third in the 2026 World Girls Under 16.

Rachael’s brother is Grandmaster Ruifeng Li.