My Goal 🩵
🌟 From 1300 Elo to Grandmaster — While Staying in School
Hello Chess Community,
I’m a student currently rated around 1300 Elo, and I’ve set a bold goal:
> To become a Grandmaster — while continuing my regular school life.
It’s not the usual story of a chess prodigy. I didn’t start young, I’m not a national champion, and I’m not homeschooled or training full-time. I’m just a regular student with an ambitious dream and a deep passion for chess.
---
🎯 Why This Goal?
I’ve been inspired by many great players who balanced school with serious chess growth. Watching their games and interviews, I realized that improvement is possible with consistent effort, good planning, and a willingness to learn from mistakes.
---
📆 My Current Training Plan
To chase this dream, I’ve built a schedule that fits around my studies.
Weekdays (2–3 hours per day):
♟️ Tactics: Daily puzzle training on Lichess or Chess.com
📘 Endgames: Learning key positions from trusted endgame books
🔍 Game Review: Analyzing my own games to understand mistakes
🏰 Openings: Studying simple, solid lines and model games
Weekends (5–6 hours per day):
⏱️ Playing longer, serious games (30+0 or more)
🔬 Deep analysis of games
🧠 Middlegame strategy study
🎯 Optional online tournament participation
---
📚 Tools I Use
Books: Silman’s Endgame Course, How to Reassess Your Chess
Apps/Sites: Lichess, Chess.com, Chessable
YouTube Channels: Hanging Pawns, Chess Dojo, Daniel Naroditsky
No coaching yet — I’m currently focused on self-study and building strong habits.
---
🎯 2025 Goals
Reach 1800 Elo or higher
Play regular over-the-board tournaments
Fix calculation and time pressure issues
Learn how to handle complex positions more confidently
---
🧭 Final Thoughts
I know this journey won’t be easy. Progress will be slow at times, and balancing school and chess will be tough. But I believe in the long game. Improvement isn’t always fast — but it is always possible.
If you’re on a similar path — trying to improve while balancing other parts of life — I hope this post gives you a bit of encouragement.
I’ll be posting progress updates and insights I learn along the way. Thanks for reading — and good luck in your own chess journey!
— A Determined Chess Student
