How I Came to Enjoy Facing Young Kids

4/13/2026:

IM Justin Sarkar - 4 GM norms and still chasing the FIDE 2500 milestone.

I’m a quiet presence at tournaments. After games, I may struggle with live post-mortems - especially tracking variations without a board. This is part of my condition, even if it’s not obvious from talking to me. Thank you for understanding.

Despite my challenges, I make a special point to greet new faces. I can do this only at tournaments, in person. I say their name, say mine, and keep it brief. These greetings are my way of contributing to the chess community - a deceptively simple gesture that helps me connect with others when longer interactions are hard.

“Short and sweet” is key, along with remembering names and faces. Younger players in particular often respond well when you acknowledge them, wish them well, and then go to play your games.

I live an hour and a half from the historic Marshall Chess Club, where I get plenty of chances to play. I also volunteer in online US Chess Blitz/Rapids.

My new greeting system works well for me. I can recall who I’ve greeted and look for opportunities to congratulate them when the moment is right.

Also working on a long-term project to archive thousands of my games from the past 3 decades. It’s a way for me to keep track of my opening experiments and the breadth of positions I’ve played over the years.

GMJustin5