Entry #2: The Historic World of Chess

 The Rise of Chess

    Simply put, chess is a board game played between two players on an 8x8 checkered board, with the object of the game being to checkmate, or trap, the opponent's king. The general concept is simple, but there is much more to it than just the end result. It's a game of strategy, and a passion that has only grown with time, especially in the online world. It's a means of connecting people across the globe, both as competitors and fans of their favorite players.

History of Classical Chess

    When people think of chess, they usually imagine two players sitting across from each other, playing on a physical board. They might be playing with a clock, which would be set to one of the many time controls, including classical, rapid, and blitz. The origin of chess can be traced back to the 600s in India. Since then, it has grown in popularity with tournaments being held all across the world for players of all skill levels.

 

    The peak of this would be the World Chess Championship, typically held between the winner of the Candidates tournament, a tournament between some of the world's best chess players, and the reigning world champion. Over time, with any other skill, the players have only grown stronger, with the current peak being the world  #1, Magnus Carlsen with a current FIDE classical rating of 2839. He also holds the all-time peak with a rating of 2882 and he is the current world #1 in both rapid and blitz, the other two primary time controls. While he only holds the title of world champion in blitz, he is still regarded as the best chess player in the world, and by many, the greatest player ever. He won the classical world championship five times before vacating his title before the 2023 World Championship due to a lack of motivation. While he represents the culmination of all of the skills developed and acquired thus far in the chess world, there is a much larger casual world that blew up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Online Chess

    The online chess community represents how many people play chess on a daily basis. It's much easier to play games on the go, and you can play against an opponent of your skill level in real time, or in a daily game, where you are only required to make a move a few times a week. The largest such place to play is chess.com, where there are currently almost 230 million registered accounts. During the pandemic, there was a large rise in the online chess community with people having more time on their hands, and fewer opportunities to play over the board. 

 

    This saw the rise of chess streamers such as GM Hikaru Nakamura, one of the world's top players, and IM Levy Rozman (pictured above).  They produced chess content in a way that was entertaining and easy for an audience of any level to comprehend. During the pandemic, they helped elevate chess to become one of the most popular streaming categories on Twitch. They invited streamers to play in a tournament called Pogchamps, which only saw the game continue to expand to a previously untapped market. It also highlighted the number of celebrities who play casually including athletes, such as Premier League star Eberechi Eze, and basketball phenom Victor Wembanyama. The narrative surrounding chess that it could only be enjoyed by "nerds" or "intellectuals" changed as more and more people were introduced to the game.

    Chess also featured in pop culture, including The Queen's Gambit on Netflix, a single-season show released during the pandemic. Another older example is the famed wizard chess game featured in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, in which the pieces moved at the commands of the players.

    Overall, chess is a simple game, with many complicated aspects to it. It is enjoyed by a large global audience in both competitve and casual atmospheres. It has been a common way for people to pass time for almost 1500 years and has only grown in popularity steadily since its invention.

 

Entry #1: The Art of the #8

 The Art of the #8

Controlling the Midfield

  

    One hobby that I enjoy in my free time is soccer. I have been playing since I was 5, and I find that it has many benefits that carry over into my daily life. It develops cooperation skills and teamwork, and teaches people to find the right balance between being self-fulfilling and sacrificing for the benefit of a larger group. Communication and leadership are also important skills that can be learned from playing a team sport such as soccer. It is particularly important for the position that I play, which is as a central midfielder, or a #8.

What is a #8?

    The #8 position is also known as the center midfield position. These are the players that sit in the heart of a team's formation, and link the defense (back line) to the attack. Depending on the formation, they may feature alongside a defensive midfielder or attacking midfielder, but they will always serve as a bridge between the attacking and defensive units. A couple of common formations that they'll feature in are the 4-3-3, and the 3-4-3.

     As we can see, the center midfielders can form a 2 or 3-man unit in the heart of the pitch, and this unit is sometimes referred to as the engine room. Communication is key, as they are the players who actively interact with everyone else on the pitch. They help to provide a layer of defense in front of the defenders, and when the team is in possession, they control the midfield in order to smoothly develop an attack that starts with the defenders and ends with the attackers. Teamwork and cooperation are essential because most of the game is played in the midfield. Decisions have to be quick and precise, and players have to work as a unit whether they're attacking or defending. 

    The #8 role isn't the flashiest and generally isn't one that gets as much of the spotlight compared to the attackers who score most of the goals, or the keeper and defenders who prevent goals at the other end. In this role, it's important to acknowledge that while the midfield isn't always going to be the star of the show, they still play an important part. They work to set up attackers in scoring positions and control the tempo of the game. There are moments, especially depending on the position, where the #8s will see themselves involved in goal-scoring opportunities; however, learning to sacrifice and pull the strings in ways that not everyone will acknowledge or appreciate is one of the most important assets for a successful player and team. 

    Overall, the #8 role in soccer is one that I enjoy. The skills I learn can translate to daily life, and when on the pitch, can help my team to pick up positive results. Communication is key, and can help the team work together as one unit, and not just a collection of individuals with different roles. Cooperation, teamwork, and selflessness all work to bring the best out of the team, and it is the heartbeat of the team, the #8, that brings this out, which is why I enjoy playing that role in soccer so much.