Joshua Waitzkin was born on December 4, 1976. He first caught a glimpse of a Chess set at six years old while walking with his mother in New York City’s Washington Square Park. At age seven, Josh began his classical study of the game with his first formal teacher, Bruce Pandolfini. From age nine on, Josh dominated the US scholastic Chess scene. At the age of eleven, he drew a game with World Champion Gary Kasparov in a simultaneous exhibition. At age thirteen, Josh earned the title of National Master. The film “Searching for Bobby Fischer” is based on the true life story of Josh Waitzkin.