Charles Meidinger – Hall of Fame Class of 2021

Charles Meidinger is a five-time Alabama State Chess Champion and one of Huntsville’s all-time greatest players. After fighting his way up through the rating list in the late 1970s, Charles attained the National Master title—and secured his place among Alabama’s elite players—in the 1980s. He then won or shared the Alabama State Champion title in 1991, 1992, 1994, 2002, and 2012. Most notably, in 1994, he won the Alabama State Championship with a sensational 7-0 score; this performance makes him the only Alabamian to achieve a perfect score at the state championship in the last three decades. His peak rating was 2286.

Charles is also one of Alabama’s great examples of chess longevity. In a chess career that spans over 40 years, Charles has won Huntsville City Championships, Space City Opens, and many other tournaments in Alabama and the Southeast. Most recently, he took clear first at the 2019 Huntsville Open Championship, and he won a prize for best first board at the 2020 U.S. Amateur Team South. He has also represented Alabama in the National Tournament of Senior State Champions.

In terms of chess style, when playing at his best, Charles can patiently grind down any potential rival in Alabama. Charles can also be commended for his versatility: he can play solid Queen Pawn Openings as White, but also sharp and tactical Sicilian Defenses as Black. Indeed, with either color and in every tournament, Charles is always a fierce fighter—but, at the same time, a model sportsman—at the chessboard.

To see one of Charles’ best games, click here: https://alabamachess.org/magazine/charles-meidinger/

Highlights