When did you start playing Chess? Why?
My dad taught me to play when I was 5 years old. We played countless games together as I went through the growing pains that every beginner chess player experiences. I quickly fell in love with the game and played in the after school club in my elementary school. I played my first rated tournament at 16 and have loved the thrill of competitive chess ever since.
What was your most memorable game?
My most memorable game was definitely against Chessmate’s founder, NM Zachary Bekkedahl. In the last round of the 2024 Colorado Closed, I only needed a draw to achieve national master. Despite this, I played a risky Sicilian Defense and sacrificed two pawns. I quickly got compensation for the pawns and concluded the game with a king hunt. Check out my analysis of the game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
What is your favorite piece?
My favorite piece is the rook because of the surprising complexity of rook endgames. The rooks move in a fairly mundane way, but can produce incredibly deep variations when they are the only pieces on the board. This unexpected beauty epitomizes why I love the game.
Why do you like teaching?
Teaching chess is very rewarding because of the potential for rapid improvement, especially for dedicated players. I love when my students pick up concepts and then demonstrate those ideas in their own games.
Chess can intrigue anyone, and I love playing and teaching with different groups I wouldn’t normally interact with. I’ve enjoyed playing rated chess and meeting new players during my travels in Spain, Mexico, and Argentina.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I was a competitive soccer player growing up and still enjoy the game. I also enjoy poker, hiking and skiing. As a longtime Coloradan, I’m proud to have climbed eight 14ers.