“I had been playing a lot of chess and I wasn't really enjoying it, so ...” — Hikaru Nakamura Quote

I had been playing a lot of chess and I wasn't really enjoying it, so I decided to go to college to see what else is out there for me. But after about six or seven months away from the game, I just decided that the whole college life wasn't for me and that's why I decided to come back.

The way I play is not like most people. The moves are more computeresque. They're not the moves that most humans are going to play.

I get tired of the traveling.

You can't follow or understand the game unless you play chess yourself, unlike poker which you can pick up in five minutes.

Winning the second title feels better to me than the first.

I picked it up just for relaxation. I can sit down and get into the game and escape that it's a big game tomorrow, escape that we need a win, or whatever. My wife knows, after a game I get home at 12:30, I'm playing chess till 3 o'clock in the morning.

I love to dress for the occasion. I played in an online chess tournament, so for every single day of that, I created some outfits inspired by Beth Harmon from 'The Queen's Gambit.'

My freshman year of high school I joined the chess and math clubs.

Like MCs, each chess player has his own style: how he likes to open, when he likes to attack. Just like we face off with each other lyrically, we challenge each other's minds on the chessboard. Sharpen each other's swords.