I’m a chess amateur who wants to achieve something bigger in chess.

I started playing chess when I was 8. My father taught me. It was a very basic level — maybe around 500 Elo, just a guess. I never studied chess, but every few years it came back into my life. I played a little with friends or colleagues.

In 2022, chess came back into my life. I played in a few tournaments in Canada, but with poor results. That’s when I thought: “I need to study a bit — maybe learn some openings and some theory.”

In 2023 I made a clear decision: “I want to take chess seriously.” I found a coach, got a Chess.com subscription, bought the materials I needed — and even more — and started my chess journey.

At the beginning of 2025 I officially began my challenge: “Reach Candidate Master in chess if you start learning as an adult” announced in my Chess.com blog.

Oleh_Sych