Grace's Journey
In this week’s blog we feature an article from Grace Wilde, one of a new generation of highly talented English junior players.
Grace explains her chess journey including how she joined her first club and went on to play Over the Board games for Colchester Chess Club, Essex County, the 'She Plays To Win team' - https://www.sheplaystowin.co.uk/ - and as a competitor in the British Junior Chess Championships. Grace has also taken part in online Internationals for the English Women’s team.
Grace will feature in episode 2 of the ECF's Talented Tuesday’s podcast which you can find here on the ECF’s Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/EnglishChessFederation . In the podcast Grace shows her game for the 'She Plays to Win' team at the 4NCL, where Grace is up against a player rated 400 ELO points higher than herself. She is not intimidated and sets about activating her rooks in true Grace Wilde style. That combined with two separate Zwischenzug tactics allows Grace to exchange into a winning endgame, which she smoothly manages to convert.
WIM Natasha Regan commented ‘It was a big pleasure to have Grace on the show, not just for her inspiring play but also her enthusiasm and cheerful attitude and her love of chess!’
Here is Grace’s article on her chess journey.
My chess journey began when I was only six years old. One afternoon, while playing on our computer, I discovered an old chess program. I asked my mom what this new game was and she replied, ‘Chess!’ I was immediately intrigued by the way the 3D pieces moved across the board, even though I didn’t know how to play yet. I watched several videos to learn, and chess was the only thing I could think about. The stories behind every battle had my imagination gripped from the very start. I learned the rules of the game, and I couldn’t wait to get better.
When I was six and a half, I joined Colchester Junior Chess Club and I finally felt like I had found ‘my people’. I always looked forward to Tuesdays at the club, where I would play chess, eat biscuits, and spend time with my friends. The strength of the juniors in the club really pushed me and they helped shape my desire to improve. This was about the time that tournaments started again after Covid and I was eager to sign up.
About a month after my seventh birthday, I played in my first over the board tournament at the British Junior Chess Championships. I remember how nervous I was, but as soon as I started playing, the thrill took over. I was hooked and this first tournament set alight a fire to play for the win.
Since then, I have played in many chess tournaments. Each comes with its own triumphs and struggles. I used to care too much about ratings, and losing made me doubt myself. I always wanted to win, although this wasn’t always a reality. Even though all my friends and family supported me, my own fear of losing used to weigh me down and I began to lose the enjoyment of the game. One day, I decided to change my whole mindset towards chess. That decision changed how I play – how I see my chess. I no longer question my ability. Instead, I focus on simply doing my own personal best. I have relit the fire inside and have realised my true passion for the game. Before, losing made me feel bad. Now, I see it as part of getting stronger. Of course, I still have a few nerves, but I choose to use this to fuel my love of the game even more.
Today, my favourite time control for tournaments is classical, because it allows me to slow down and calculate my moves in greater depth. I love the soft click of the clock being pressed, the thudding of the pieces as I deliver the mate, the victory handshake. To me, this is what makes chess so much fun. I also love spotting patterns that others miss – the cheeky trick that wins you the game.
My next favourite time control is blitz. Although it is the polar opposite of classical, I often find myself fully invested in every blitz game. You need to rely so much on instinct and intuition and there is no margin for error. Your brain works so hard to understand the hidden meaning behind the moves that you often find yourself out of time. This makes this quick-paced variant so exhilarating.
Over the years, I have had the chance to play against many different opponents. For me, chess is a universal connector – it doesn’t matter what language you speak, how old you are, what your gender is, or even how well you play. Anyone can play chess, and that makes this particular sport so fantastic. The first time I played against an adult (after playing for roughly a year), I remember feeling very intimidated. Now, I prefer to take part in ‘Open’ tournaments where there is a mix of adults and juniors. I also believe it is important to play against both boys and girls. This diversity makes every game unique and each tournament more exciting. Personally, as an improving player, I enjoy playing against stronger opponents because I learn so much from the experience (and I also gain rating when I win!).
I look forward to continuing with chess for many more years. I want to keep progressing at my own pace. I can’t wait to meet even more amazing people; I have already been so lucky to have met some fantastic players throughout my chess journey, including some of my best friends and mentors. It would be wonderful to gain a title one day and I’m hopeful for what the future may bring. But for now, I enjoy playing for the SPTW, Essex, Colchester and England Women (online) teams. My name is Grace Wilde. I am eleven years old and I have been playing chess for nearly half of my life. My journey has just begun and I am buzzing to improve my game even further. My message: keep playing, keep improving and never let fear hold you back.
