I am a chess professional based in Invercargill in New Zealand. I use the word ‘professional’ lightly or with a huge grain of salt – I am a chess coach, arbiter, tournament organizer and sell chess books and chess sets. My income is earned solely through chess!
My current FIDE rating (and bear in mind FIDE ratings in New Zealand aren’t always the most accurate as we don’t play that many FIDE events, particularly in the South Island) is 1866, has been as high as 1936 – I regard myself as being somewhere around the 2000 mark in terms of playing strength.
I grew up in South Africa where I played club, league and tournament chess, representing my province at primary school, secondary school, university and senior level.
I then lived in the UK for 11 years where I again played club, league and tournament chess.
Finally, I arrived in New Zealand in 2012, spending the first 9 years in Christchurch before moving to Invercargill earlier this year. I have been quite active on the chess scene over the past 8 years, playing in many club and other events. In 2019 I won the South Island Rapidplay Championships.
Since last July I have been in my new self employed role as a chess coach and then some!
I’ll be blogging about my life and the journey that chess has taken me on. I’ll share some amusing stories, maybe some scary ones too!
And I’ll blog about what I am up to now, even sharing some chess lessons, as I grow my chess business – ‘chessventures’.
