CPawn
Mychal
Sacramento, California, United States 
Member Since: Aug 25, 2008
Last Login: Nov 20, 2009
Profile Views: 1568
Points: 759
Status: Had a great time in Reno. (26 days ago)
Occupation: Computer Geek
USCF Rating: 1568
About Me:
Due to peoples continued lack of manners, respect, and ignorance when it comes to others i will no longer be playing any chess here, unless it is with the few here that i know. Not beaten...just tired.
I learned to play chess in 6th. Grade. I learned on a rainy day when we couldn’t go outside and someone taped paper on checkers with a K for King...Q for Queen and you get the rest. I quickly developed a passion for the game and split my time in Jr high school between chess, and bowling. Yes bowling...I was at 1 time ALMOST good enough to turn pro. But as that dream died I dedicated myself solely to the great game of chess.
I won the club championship in Jr. High School, and High school. My proudest chess achievement in high school was playing a chess match against the at that time chess champion for the military in California. He won 31/2-21/2 but it was a tremendous experience, and one I will never forget. My fondest chess tournament memory was playing at the Paul Masson winery. There I met Walter Browne, George Koltanowski, and 2 World Champions! Max Euwe and Boris Spassky. I was fortunate enough to get there autographs and to actually be able to speak to them. Spassky in particular is a very gracious man. Truly one of the finest people I have ever met.
By the time college rolled around I had become burned out with chess and took a 25 year hiatus. During that time I did what most do. Completed school, worked, got married, and had 2 wonderful daughters, got involved in the martial arts. Specifically Kyokoshin Karate, and Ai Ki Jujitsu. Both of my girls also got involved in karate and i had the pleasure of being able to train them. I participated in many tournaments and was able to see some beautiful parts of the country, and meet some great people. I qualified for the karate national championships in North Carolina but due to my fear of planes crashing i did not participate.
I played chess once in a great while online but nothing serious. I could never get my girls into the game. Then during the spring of 2008 I decided to get back into chess. I rejoined the USCF and played in my first tournament in 25 years, the 2008 Sacramento Championship. Considering the long layoff I was very pleased with my result.
I started going back to Sacramento Chess Club, and was fortunate to see some old friends, and familiar faces.