My proudest moment was winning nationals in third grade at a chess tournament8"

by Laura Shareshian features staff

by Laura Shareshian features staff

Freshman Luke Ye’s passion for chess began when he was 6 years old. It started with two hours of after-school chess club every day. But as his interest in the game grew, he decided this first schedule was no longer enough.

“I wanted to pursue chess deeper, [so] I tried to study on my own,” Ye said. “Every day, [I would get] back after chess club, [and] go study on my own for another one or two hours. I got better then.”

Three years later, Ye took his first steps inside the giant playing hall hosting the United States Chess Federation's SuperNationals. It’s aptly sized; Ye’s competition in

RIGHT: Luke Ye plays in a tournament Feb. 18. Ye the serious and tense environment, a staple of events. "Playing in chess tournaments is something I look forward to every time," Ye said.

(Photo the K-5 Championship is just a portion of the massive tournament. It was overwhelming, but Ye's excitement to play took over. Soon, he was playing great games, surrounded by supportive competition.

“My parents knew that I was doing very well in the tournament,” Ye said. “They didn't really try to tell me that.”

So until the championship’s conclusion, Ye’s successes were measured in celebratory trips to McDonald's for ice cream. It was only when he tied for first place that Ye realized the force of his performance. Ye's 2017 win marked the beginning of a greater enthusiasm and commitment to chess. More recently, he won the Missouri Chess Association's 2019 State Open. On continuing chess, Ye holds a reso- lute attitude, focused on learning from mistakes.

“When I make a mistake in a game and blunder the game away, [I'm] upset and I go back and try to learn everything to prevent that from ever happening again,” Ye said. “And learning new things — especially from my own mistakes — it's a very important aspect of chess. That's also something I like about it.”

His resolve has made him a candidate master, a title reserved for players with exceptional performances at tournaments and a rating of 2000 or above. This official recognition was a moment of pride for Ye, a payoff for years of practice.

“I want to keep doing it and getting better," Ye said. "It's just that sense of self-improvement."