The elusive National Master (NM) title had been my dream since I first picked up a chessboard. I started playing seriously during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, watching strong titled players dominate online and over-the-board (OTB) tournaments and I knew then that I wanted to be part of that group. But little did I know, the road to a title would be anything but effortless.
In 2022, just one year after I began competing in rated OTB chess tournaments, I achieved an 1800+ rating, and then I quickly plateaued. It took persistent effort and countless hours of study to break past that barrier. By 2023, I reached 2000, but my progress slowed again. Still, I kept pushing forward, eventually breaking through 2100, which set the stage for my next challenge.
2024 World School Championship: Learning from Losses
At the 2024 World School Championship in Peru, I led the leaderboard with 4.5/5, tied with a dozen others. The stakes were high—a FM title awaited the winner. After an early draw in Round 2, I clawed my way back with three consecutive wins, setting up a critical Round 6 showdown against Christopher Munoz Ramos, a Chilean FM.
The game started in my favor, and I nearly won a piece with a tactical idea, but I had missed it. Later, I miscalculated, and the position shifted into an inferior rook endgame. Hours of defense brought me to what I believed was a theoretical draw. Confident, I relaxed—only to realize I’d missed a simple move. My opponent seized the opportunity, and I resigned, devastated but determined to recover. (see my other article about the World School Championship )
With 4.5/6, I rebounded the next day, scoring a win to reach 5.5/7. In Round 8, I faced a slightly lower-rated opponent. I declined a draw offer, aiming for a win, but poor time management cost me the game on the clock despite a promising position. This brutal loss taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes, chess isn’t just about winning—it’s about how you respond when things don’t go as planned.
2024 North American Open: Pushing Through Adversity
Coming off a strong start, I entered Round 4 of the North American Open in Las Vegas with a perfect 3/3. Unfortunately, I woke up sick that morning with a pounding headache and nausea. Despite my condition, I faced a 2264-rated opponent. The game was grueling, and although my position worsened, I found a resourceful defense to seize the advantage but ultimately settled for a draw to avoid risks.
It was exhausting, but it taught me that you don’t always get to play at your best. Sometimes, you have to push through discomfort and play with what you’ve got.
Round 5 was a quick draw against another National Master, leaving me still in contention. Round 6, however, was pivotal. Winning against a strong FM would push my rating past 2200 and earn me the NM title.
The game was complex, with both of us burning time early. At a critical moment, my opponent sacrificed a knight, leaving me just three minutes to calculate. Unsure, I declined the sacrifice and entered an endgame a pawn down. Miscalculations led to a two-pawn deficit, and I lost the game. My NM dream slipped away for this tournament, but I knew I still had another chance—the Dreaming King Open, though I didn’t achieve my goal by the end of 2024.
2025 Dreaming King Open: Dream Comes True
The new year brought the Dreaming King Open, where I was just 14 points shy of the NM title. However, a scheduling conflict with my speech and debate tournament on the final day meant I could only compete in four rounds. Despite this, I decided to give it a shot.
In Round 1, I claimed a straightforward win against a National Master. This vaulted me to Board 1 in Round 2, where I faced a 2380 FM. A win would guarantee the NM title. Unfortunately, I fell behind early in the opening and couldn’t recover, losing decisively.
In Round 3, I faced a strong 2100-rated opponent in a complicated game. He faltered in time trouble, and I capitalized to win.
Once again, I found myself on a top board for Round 4, facing yet another 2300 FM. For the third time, a win would crown me a National Master.
This FM was known for his deep opening preparation, often building a massive time advantage. To surprise him, I opened with 1. B3, but he seemed prepared. I spent a lot of time navigating the middlegame, while he stayed ahead on the clock. Then, he made a critical tactical error. I capitalized swiftly, converting the position into a win and finally earning my NM title!
It’s Not the End, Just the Beginning
Looking back, the journey to NM wasn’t a straight path. It was filled with ups and downs, moments of doubt, and lessons learned through both victories and defeats. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way that I hope to share:
- Perseverance: There were so many moments where I thought I had reached my limit. After each loss, I felt crushed. But each time, I reminded myself that the journey doesn’t end with one setback. What matters is how you bounce back.
- Patience: Achieving big dreams takes time. There were tournaments where I was close, but not close enough. I had to learn that improvement doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, and it’s okay to fall short as long as you keep pushing forward.
- Trust Your Instincts: In those key moments where I had to make quick decisions—whether it was a time scramble or a complex tactical shot—trusting my instincts was sometimes the key to overcoming the pressure. Chess is as much about the mindset as it is about the moves on the board.
- Focus on the Process, Not Just the Outcome: I used to fixate only on titles and ratings. But over time, I realized that the process of improving and learning was more fulfilling than just reaching the end goal. Every game, every challenge, is an opportunity to grow.
Winning the NM title is a major milestone in my chess journey, but it’s far from the end. In fact, it’s just the beginning of the next chapter. I will continue to push forward, finding joy in every improvement along the way. The journey never stops, and I’m excited for what lies ahead.
[…] Note:This article was written after I achieved the title of National Master (see my other article, Journey to National Master: A Dream Comes True at the Dreaming King Open). Competing in the World School Championship in Peru was one of the most challenging and […]