My father taught me when I was 8. Despite his Cambridge double 1st in Law, he wasn't very good at chess at all, and I beat him in our third game. I went on to become the champion at my prep school, but don't think I have improved very much in the 45 years since.
I learned it from some classmates at around age 9. Back then I perceived it only as a mildly interesting pastime and when I switched schools I lost sight of it. It was only many years later when I got re-introduced to it via the Internet ... I created an account and went on to see how good I would fare against people from all around the world but unsurprisingly I was pretty lousy back then. My sense of competitiveness was then piqued: How could I improve, and what was my limit? I slowly got obsessed over this game until I stopped playing anything else. That was in 2012 or so and not a single day since then has passed by where I didn't derive joy from Chess. 
I'm the only player irl whom I know, and without the online community I'd never had returned to what is nowadays my sole hobby.
Only memory I have from my childhood that involves chess is being at grandparents house and my grandfather teaching me how to play. I was about six years old when he showed me how to move pieces. After that we played a game or two and all of my moves were illegal. He just went with it and let me win. Since than I have never played chess till December 2020. Right now I'm showing the game to my little cousins and younger sisters.
Good Point! Yes in the 4th grade it was all about IRL chess. You are correct I think there was no notion of what chess would become. Digitized and played primarily through online avenues.
My father taught me when I was 8. Despite his Cambridge double 1st in Law, he wasn't very good at chess at all, and I beat him in our third game. I went on to become the champion at my prep school, but don't think I have improved very much in the 45 years since.
Hey, you were still champion at prep school. That says something right?
Good stuff
I learned it from some classmates at around age 9. Back then I perceived it only as a mildly interesting pastime and when I switched schools I lost sight of it. It was only many years later when I got re-introduced to it via the Internet ... I created an account and went on to see how good I would fare against people from all around the world but unsurprisingly I was pretty lousy back then. My sense of competitiveness was then piqued: How could I improve, and what was my limit? I slowly got obsessed over this game until I stopped playing anything else. That was in 2012 or so and not a single day since then has passed by where I didn't derive joy from Chess. I'm the only player irl whom I know, and without the online community I'd never had returned to what is nowadays my sole hobby.
Yup it's crazy to think that you don't actually have to know anyone IRL to play against the world (so to speak). Same here I do not think I would have taken up the game without the online resources. I mean I am sure there are chess clubs out there but the chances of realistically going on a day to day basis are not too high.
Only memory I have from my childhood that involves chess is being at grandparents house and my grandfather teaching me how to play. I was about six years old when he showed me how to move pieces. After that we played a game or two and all of my moves were illegal. He just went with it and let me win. Since than I have never played chess till December 2020. Right now I'm showing the game to my little cousins and younger sisters.
That is awesome. Your grandfather was cool then!! Wow, you just started up recently. You have great ratings! That's pretty sweet that you'r getting your family involved. Keep it going.
So I was wondering:
How many of you out there played chess growing up?
1. Where you in chess club growing up?
2. Did you do anything chess related growing up?
I was once in the library and stumbled upon the game. It was in grade 4 when I discovered chess. With this being said I only had the opportunity to play a couple of times. I started playing again a couple of years ago online. It kinda stuck with me through the years ever since I was 8 but I never got around to playing again until recently ( a few years ago).
What about you guys?
Are you from chess families, or do you have extensive backgrounds?
Josh