IAOTP selects James Eade for Presidential Award

The International Association of Top Professionals will honor chess leader, author and nonprofit founder James Eade at its Annual Awards Gala in Miami in December 2027. The award recognizes his work in chess education, addiction recovery and leadership across several organizations.

Why it matters: - The Presidential Award is one of IAOTP’s highest honors. - The recognition puts a spotlight on James Eade’s work in chess access, education and addiction recovery. - IAOTP will present the award at its Annual Awards Gala in Miami in December 2027.

What happened: - The International Association of Top Professionals selected James Eade for its Presidential Award. - IAOTP announced the honor on Oct. 21, 2026. - The gala will take place in Miami in December 2027. - More information is available in IAOTP’s award gala details.

The details: - IAOTP describes the Presidential Award as a recognition reserved for people who show extraordinary dedication, innovation and leadership. - The honor is also tied to contributions that improve public well-being, advance industry knowledge and support policy change. - Eade is founder, president and CEO of the Eade Foundation. - The Eade Foundation focuses on building communities through chess, especially for people with limited access to the game. - The foundation promotes chess literacy and notation so players can preserve games and seek help from stronger players. - The foundation also provides chess sets and boards to people who cannot afford them. - Eade has nearly five decades of experience. - Eade has served as president of the Chess Journalists of America, CalChess, and the Kolty Chess for Youth Federation. - Eade has also been chairman of the Chess Advisory Board at the University of Texas at Dallas, American Zone president of FIDE and a delegate for the United States Chess Federation. - Since 2000, Eade has been a trustee of the U.S. Chess Trust. - Eade served as president of the U.S. Chess Trust from 2010 to 2019. - Eade is the author of Chess for Dummies, The Chess Player’s Bible: Illustrated Strategies for Staying Ahead of the Game and Chess Openings for Dummies. - Eade published Freedom: Your Path to Recovery in 2023. - Eade most recently released No Blame, No Shame. - Eade has also worked as a freelance producer for IBMTV and held director-level and senior systems programmer roles at Charles Schwab. - Eade earned a B.A. in History from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an M.A. in Human Resource Management from the University of San Francisco. - Eade has received honors including Chess Educator of the Year from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2016 and an Outstanding Career Achievement Award from the United States Chess Federation in 2018. - Eade has also received the Distinguished Worldwide Humanitarian Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award and multiple 2026 awards, including Top 50 Fearless Leaders Award and Most Influential Leader in Addiction Recovery Award. - IAOTP says its membership is by invitation or nomination and is not open to the general public.

Between the lines: - The selection blends Eade’s chess credentials with his broader advocacy work. - The award also reinforces IAOTP’s use of recognition to elevate leaders across professional and public-service fields. - Eade’s public comments frame chess as a community that cuts across language and geography.

What's next: - Eade will receive the Presidential Award at IAOTP’s gala in Miami in December 2027. - The Eade Foundation will continue its chess access and education mission. - Eade said he remains committed to empowering others through chess, writing and addiction recovery work.

The bottom line: - IAOTP is honoring Eade for a career that spans chess leadership, authorship and service-focused nonprofit work. - More information is available on the Eade Foundation website and IAOTP’s site.