My Chess Journey: From San Diego Subway Matches to Building a Chess Legacy in South Carolina

My Chess Journey: From San Diego Subway Matches to Building a Chess Legacy in South Carolina
By  James Brandmair

My journey with chess began when I was ten years old, learning the rules from my dad after moving from Columbia, SC to San Diego in 2003. I had already stumbled upon chess online the year before, but I didn’t understand the rules—just moved pieces until the computer said no. When I met my dad, we bonded over the game. He taught me how to play properly, and that early connection sparked something deep. It wasn’t just a game—it became a passion.

Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I was always the kid with a chess set and a book, playing anyone I could at school, in bookstores, at coffee shops. I started clubs everywhere I went:

• 5th Grade – YMCA in San Diego

• 6th Grade – Kanoelani Elementary, Hawaiʻi

• 7th Grade – Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, Texas

• 8th Grade – Ewa Beach Middle School

• 9th Grade – Waipahu High School

• 10th Grade – Tascosa High School, Texas

Even after dropping out at 16 and getting my GED, I never left chess. I was a fixture at the Bremerton Chess Club in Washington and was once featured in a local article for being the first to arrive—books stacked, board ready, ambition blazing. I had read 50+ chess books by then, logged thousands of hours, and dreamed of going far.

“I got beat, and I want to beat everybody,” I told the reporter at 17. That drive never left.

Though I knew about tournament chess, I had no idea how to get involved. I visited the Columbia Chess Club once in 2012, played a classical game against a 1380 and got a provisional rating of 1780. But I didn’t play another OTB game for over nine years.

In 2014 I got married and started a family. My chess activity slowed—mostly daily games online. When I learned I was going to be a father in 2020, I made the decision to cut back on hobbies. I stopped playing chess completely. But then… The Queen’s Gambit came out. My wife Casey was interested, knowing I used to love the game. We binged it together, and the spark was reignited. Morning coffee and naptime games became our new normal.

Back at work after paternity leave, I found a coworker who also loved chess—Paul Copeland (brother of NM Sam Copeland, VP of Chess.com). We’d meet at Starbucks to play. I won maybe 1 in 6 games. That lit the competitive fire again.

I started grinding tactics, watching YouTube videos, buying books. In 2021, Paul invited me to the Carolinas Classic, my first real tournament. It was electric—hundreds of players, big prizes, Hilton ballroom energy. I only scored 2/5, but I was hooked.

Back in Columbia, I joined the Five Points Chess Club but found myself longing for something closer to the high-level feel I saw in Charlotte. So I did what I’ve always done—I started something. In August 2021, I launched the Irmo Chess Club with Casey’s help. I brought boards, clocks, organization, and structure. It caught fire.

Soon, we were seeing 60+ people every Thursday. I partnered with Brandon Jordan, and together we revived the Columbia Chess Club, which had been inactive since COVID. By the end of 2023, we had our own building.

We now host:

• Weekly kids tournaments (with free US Chess memberships)

• Online events with Chess.com Diamond prizes

• State Championships (Blitz, Rapid, Senior, Scholastic)

• Cash prize tournaments

• Simuls, lectures, and summer camps

• Free beginner classes

• A growing team of volunteer coaches

As Club President, I’ve directed 331 US Chess events and competed in 257, all since 2021. I’ve worked with FM Midas Ratsma and WGM Svetlana Sucikova, peaking at 1573 USCF. They helped me realize my biggest weaknesses: poor calculation and pessimism. They taught me to look deeper, to believe more.

But it hasn’t been easy. I still study two hours a day. I compete multiple times a week. And lately, the results aren’t matching the effort. Losses hit hard. Wins just feel like relief. I’ve taken a step back from coaching and focused on rekindling the joy.

Recently, I started playing casual Friday matches with a streamer friend, GremlinPlaysChess. It’s helped me return to online play and feel the fun again. I still love puzzles, books, videos, and Chessable. I still believe in the grind. I just want to enjoy it again.

In 2021, I rebooted the Columbia Chess Club to bring chess back to our city post-COVID. We’ve built something real—community, competition, and connection. From playing in coffee shops as a teenager to hosting South Carolina’s largest open chess event, this has been a lifelong journey. And I’m not done yet.

Thanks for reading my story. If you’re ever in Columbia, SC—stop by the club. Let’s play.

— James Brandmair