Flawless Finish: 3-0 Quad Sweep at Columbia Chess Club

Round 1 – Holding Strong in 111 Moves

Opponent: Neil Noronha (1483)
Result: 1-0

Neil is a sharp and dedicated high school player who regularly makes the 90-minute drive from Florence to compete. He plays both aggressively and patiently—a tough combo to break. I stayed solid, kept improving my position, and eventually converted a long, grinding endgame.

The most shocking stat:
📉 I played 87 moves under 5 minutes, and 62 of those under 1 minute. Thank goodness for the 10-second increment.

Round 2 – Surviving the Greek Gift

Opponent: Thomas Kemp Jr. (1448)
Result: 1-0

Thomas Jr. is a middle schooler and a fast-rising club talent. He threw a Greek Gift at me on move 13, hoping to rip open my kingside. I used to love this sacrifice myself, so I recognized early that it was unsound—but surviving the attack still took nerves and clock management.

At one point I had a mate in four that I missed while searching for a flashy windmill. Even without it, I eventually ground things out, but not without a serious time crunch.

Round 3 – Breaking Through the Father

Opponent: Thomas Kemp Sr. (1279)
Result: 1-0

Thomas Sr. is not just Thomas Jr.’s dad—he’s a rising player and quickly becoming a personal rival. He surprised me with an early ...h5, then took my knight on c3, helping open the b-file, and castled queenside into a storm. That gave me a clear plan: use the light-squared bishop, line up my rooks, and march the a-pawn. And it worked.

🔍 Closing Thoughts

Each game featured a brilliant move I was proud of. I believe my preparation and habits made the difference:

• 🧠 200+ puzzles per week

• 🔁 Daily Chessable reps

• 🛏️ Quality sleep

• 🚫 No sugar crashes or caffeine overload

It all came together—strategy, stamina, and mindset. A great night of chess.