Don't Quit Chess in Your Life. Ever.

COVID has impacted us the chess community in many ways. Most of them are negative, but the positive effects the pandemic has had cannot be unseen. Here are my takeaways from taking a break from chess the past few months.

The main reason I stepped away from chess for a few months is because of my parents and high school. Despite being a young chess master, I am still young, so many social matters have been a lot more prevalent. I love playing video games, socializing with friends, but most importantly, I value my family. I had a lot of schoolwork to do and my parents knew it. During this time, I started studying a lot about technology, such as buying a new high-end computer and analysing the effects of the semiconductor shortage. But as I learned through this, I realized that this is the exact same way as I learned chess.

1. Chess is a Game, a Sport, but Most Importantly, a Hobby

Dear reader, I understand that you are probably not interested in my personal life. However, if you happen to read this, it means that you play chess. I'm not focused on chess, however. I'm focused about the people you meet. Chess.com is a large website with over 3 000 000 active users, many of which come on daily. This number rose from around 500 000 pre-pandemic and the main improvement is, this environment is clean. With the occasional cheater and abuser, everyone else is a nice person. So are you. I have taken time to write this because I will probably not be writing for another 6 months or longer. But despite taking breaks in chess, I have never quit. The brilliant community around me is a big reason. Unlike sport and games, chess is not a toxic activity. It should be considered a hobby above all things.

2. Education

Chess is known for being one of the hardest games to play, despite having extremely simple rules. It is 32 pieces on a 8x8 board, and each piece has its own way of maneuvering around the board. What usually goes underappreciated is the fact that unlike every other sport and game, which have gone down in popularity, chess has skyrocketed. The amount of searches for chess rose after "The Queen's Gambit" was released on Netflix, but it never dipped below that point at any time. The biggest change is happening in the education sector.

Approximately 70% of students in North America know what chess is. 25% know the basic rules. This is a drastic improvement from the past, where only around 10% of people played. Chess plays a positive role in our education since it improves cognitive function. People who play chess well usually excel in life, particularly in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Anyone who quits chess is missing a golden opportunity for their education. This is true for players of all ages. Chess is a hobby which you can carry on for your entire life.

3. Chess is Everywhere

I had settled in to Sacramento, California for a short while due to parent work-related reasons. It was not a fun experience since I had always staying in Canada more. However, I was able to see roadside parks, where people would sit there with a chessboard, waiting for an opponent. You have probably seen one of two of these places before. Before the pandemic, you could see many people playing chess in these parks all the time. However, the number has never fallen since then. There are just as many people playing there and having fun, even though all of them are forced to wear masks. Chess may just be a hobby, but for others, it might be their only source of reliable socializing.

Contrary to popular belief, being good at chess doesn't mean you are smart. Sure, the elite are probably masters at many subjects, but for everyone who plays chess, you are good at chess because you are a member of the chess community. The people around you matter the most compared to the actual game itself. There is absolutely no reason to quit on people who see you as a role model. I realized this during these 6 months; there is no way I would ever feel the same if I quit chess. If you are a big fan of chess, please try to keep this hobby. Try to engage in chess activities in your local home. If everyone realizes that chess is important, then no one will ever try to quit it.

Now here I am, someone who has been inactive for 6 months, trying to get the attention of everyone. Most of you probably didn't read this. However, if you read the entire thing, do everyone a favour and start socializing with them. There are many people who have time to speak with you .

Thanks for Reading!