From October 24 to November 6, I competed for Team Canada at the World Youth Chess Championships in Halkidiki, Greece. It was a very nice experience; I got to play some tough games of chess against representatives of countries all around the world! All the competitors were very strong and well prepared, but I still somehow managed to score 6 points out of 11 in the U14 Open section.

The WYCC is a very costly trip, adding up to around $3000 per person. However, the two weeks of intense chess and a nice, sunny resort is well worth it. Every day, your assigned coach will prepare you for your game against your opponent by reviewing their openings and playstyle. After the game, they will analyze it and show key mistakes for both players. The World Youth Chess Championships is not only a rigorous tournament to compete in, but also a great learning experience to help improve your chess. If it can be afforded, I strongly recommend playing at the WYCC at least once in your life, in order to experience first hand how the world’s chess elites play the game.

Lastly, I would like to thank Corinna Wan and the Seneca Hill Chess Club for sponsoring my trip to Greece! The financial aid was a great help in covering the travel expenses. I hope that one day, more players of the Seneca Hill Chess Club will become strong enough to play at the World Youth Chess Championships too!

Harry