From Shenzhen to the World: Growing Up in China's Chess Scene

Shenzhen is a city of ambition. It was a fishing village forty years ago; now it's one of the world's great technology hubs. Growing up here, I absorbed that energy — the sense that anything is possible if you work hard enough and think creatively enough. Chess fit naturally into that worldview.

My First Coach

I started playing chess at age 8 at a community center near my home. My first coach, Master Liu, was a retired engineer who had learned chess from Soviet textbooks in the 1980s. He was strict, methodical, and deeply passionate about the game. He taught me that chess is not about memorizing moves — it's about understanding positions.

The Chinese Chess System

China has invested heavily in chess development over the past two decades, and it shows. The national training system is rigorous — regular camps, structured tournaments, and access to strong coaches. I benefited enormously from this infrastructure. But I also learned early that to reach the top, you have to go beyond the system — to study independently, to seek out stronger opponents, and to develop your own style.

Shenzhen will always be home. Whatever happens next — US college, international tournaments, wherever chess takes me — I carry this city's spirit with me: the belief that with enough work and enough creativity, you can build something remarkable from scratch.