Last year, on my 28th birthday, I decided to sign up as the first American to compete in the ChessBoxing World Championship. Having played chess competitively growing up and having boxed on the UGA club team, I found a hybrid sport that combined two of my favorite things. When I signed up, I had no idea how difficult the training, fundraising and competition would be.
On my first day of training, my chess coach Carlos (founder of Chess Atlanta) had me attend a children's chess camp for 8-12 year olds. He sat me down in the middle of the room, told the kids what I was training for, and instructed me to play blitz chess (5 minute time control for the whole game) against every camper. About twenty kids challenged me, and all twenty beat me. Defeated and disheartened, I went to to my car to cry and figure out a way to withdrawal from the world championship.
The next morning, I woke up and looked at myself in the mirror. Looking back at me, I didn't see a quitter. I saw over 300 people who had signed up to Brawl for a Cause - training, fundraising and fighting for what they believe in most. All of those people had felt what I was feeling in that moment. They wanted to quit, and they didn't, because their cause was bigger than their ego. Right then, I decided to do the same and fight for my nonprofit organization that trains, equips and inspires everyday people to literally fight for what they believe in most, Brawl for a Cause.
After overcoming that hurdle, there were more challenges. First, I'd rather get punched in the face 1,000 times than ask people for money, which is where this campaign comes in. Then, I realized that fundraising for nonprofits only offers an opportunity for generosity, support, and doing good in the world. People who can, do. People who can't, support in other ways. So, I sent emails, made calls and hosted events to fund my training and travel, then everything over my costs benefitted the Brawl's mission. The support from family, friends, past Brawlers and even complete strangers, meant the world to me.
Finally, it was time to compete in Kolkata, India for the USA. On my way to the finals, I had a tough match against a serviceman in the Indian army, Rahul, who I checkmated in the third round. In the finals, I faced a Korean, who helped out as a boxing coach for the Indian National Team. While he out-boxed me for much of the match, I landed a strong right hook before the final chess round, which led to a mistake by him. I checkmated him, and became the first American World Champion in the sport of ChessBoxing.
Now, it's time to fight for what I believe in again. This year, we'll be going back with new Team USA ChessBoxers, and a new mission - grow the sport in the USA while benefitting the nonprofit close to my heart, Brawl for a Cause. I'll be training, fundraising, and fighting my heart out, so your support will mean the world to me, my teammates, and the Brawl community. Thank you for your generosity and helping to grow this insane hybrid sport while fighting to make the world a better place. Brawl on!
