Andrew Lai (Head Instructor of the MA Chapter )

I am Andrew Lai, a junior at Boston Latin School in Boston, Massachusetts. Although I learned the rules of chess before, I didn’t begin playing until it was properly introduced to me by my 5th grade teacher. When she talked about her own experiences playing, I became fascinated with the game, determined to learn as much as I could. 

I kept playing and getting better for a year, but I found a different fascination: video games. I kept playing video games until a couple months into the COVID pandemic, when I realized how unhealthy my new habit had become for me.

My new realization is why I decided to help other kids learn about chess. I wanted kids, who were like me, to learn about the game of chess and how it could benefit their lives