Aspiring Young Chess Players Aim for Grandmaster Status

Emerging chess talents are gaining insights from the most skilled practitioners of the game. The western region hosts three grandmasters and an international champion aged 91. The game of chess, which dates back over 1,500 years, has experienced a resurgence in popularity recently, partly attributed to the successful Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit. During a speed chess competition held in Bristol, young participants aimed to demonstrate the enduring appeal of chess for future generations. Among the contenders was 11-year-old Patrick, who aspires to achieve the status of the world’s top player. He commenced playing at the age of two, stating that extensive practice has contributed to his skill enhancement. Patrick articulated his approach: “When it’s fast chess, then just look for a good move. When it’s long chess, if you find a good move, just try to find a better one.” He holds significant aspirations, expressing his ambition to exceed a 2,900 rating in chess, a figure higher than the current world number one’s rating of 2,831. This competition offers young participants an opportunity to refine their abilities by competing against some of the sport’s leading figures. Rayyan, aged 14, expressed nervousness prior to his match with a grandmaster. His preparation involved “practicing openings and learning endgame positions.” He initially engaged with chess online and considers the school clubs “really fun.” Conversely, 91-year-old Jim shows no signs of concluding his involvement in the game. An international master originally from the United States, he secured his initial title in 1958 and competed against the renowned chess player Bobby Fischer. He described it as “wonderful” to observe numerous young individuals engaging with chess. His counsel for the emerging generation is to “play as many games as you can on the internet.” Grandmaster Christopher Jones, a specialist in compositional chess, which involves creating puzzles for others to solve, believes that chess has regained its “cool” image following its surge in popularity during lockdown.