Two things that don't usually go together. How I Found Love Over The Chess Board
Olya Kaye was the winner of the 2001 Canadian Girls Chess Championship. Then she abandoned competitve chess to concentrate on life. In 2009 she decided to play chess against 15 people simultaneously at her place of employment to raise money for the United Way.
She describes the process of getting back into chess, and preparing for a simul.
There was only one other problem: playing against 15 people at the same time is far different than playing against one person. It is a real burden on memory, focus, judgement, calculation, and quick thinking. It also hurts your legs after a couple of hours—especially if you are a woman wearing heels. The simul is also a spectator’s game. Everyone is watching your every move. And in my case, being a woman, playing against all men doubled up the spectatorship and the pressure. “Will she crack?” my colleagues were wondering.
One of the 15 men would be of special interest.
A sweet story, even if you don't know anything about chess.
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