This year, for the first time ever, the annual Pan-American Youth Chess Championship was held in the United States. This was also my first time playing in the popular youth event. I missed the opportunity to travel to a new country, but at least flying to Chicago was much easier logistically.
Speaking of logistics, the tournament organizers were amazing at ironing out every detail. Unlike many big tournaments which are held in the middle of the school year (creating the dilemma of making up school work or missing events), the Pan-Am was held during summer break. What a relief to not have to worry about homework between rounds for once!
It’s therefore no wonder that a very diverse group of players came to play in this great event. In total, 645 players hailing from 21 countries battled it out in their respective sections.
I played in the Girls Under 16 section, and I played many tough games. In the end, though, a combination of skill and good fortune allowed me to finish in clear first place with 8.5/9. You can see the results here.
One unique thing about the Pan-American Youth was the mix of one-round and two-round days. The one-round days allowed for more rest, preparation, hanging out with friends, and of course, food. Chicago’s Chinatown has some of the best restaurants and shops I’ve ever been to.
Overall, I had a lot of fun at Pan-Am, and I hope to play it again next year!
