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.…
After a pause in Puddletown tournaments due to our busy summer schedules, we were finally back for another in-person event today. 65 players joined us at Village Church to battle it out in their respective sections. We had many new players this time: shoutout to Stellan B., Elliot S., Bryan W.,…
How odd, I thought, scrolling past this year's US Girls Junior Championship player list. Many of the familiar names I had seen on television over and over again in the past were absent this year. Instead, I saw more young friends, attending this prestigious event for the first time. Last year,…