CYC: Where Young Players Learn, Compete and Have Fun
On 12 September, we held the very first Chessaka Youth Cup (CYC) at our new clubhouse, Chessaka. Thirteen young players joined us for an afternoon of chess, competition, learning — and plenty of smiles.
The CYC is designed to give young players regular opportunities to play over-the-board chess in a relaxed and friendly environment. While there are points, prizes and plenty of competitive moments, the main idea is simple: play chess, have fun, and improve along the way.
And our first CYC showed exactly why this kind of regular tournament experience is so valuable.
A special visit before the first round
Just before the tournament got underway, Japan Chess Champion and Caissa trainer Kan Nakahara stopped by Chessaka to say hello to the young players.
Kan shared a few encouraging and motivating words with the aspiring players before they sat down for their first games. Having a top Japanese player take the time to meet the children and encourage them was a great way to start the very first CYC.
Then it was time to play!
“Who can finish first? Who is the fastest?”
The first round was certainly memorable.
Some games seemed to turn into a contest to see who could finish first — not just fast enough for rapid chess, but almost fast enough for bullet!
After the round, we talked about an important lesson: you don't have to react instantly just because your opponent plays quickly.
If your opponent moves very fast, that doesn't mean you have to do the same. They may be making mistakes that you can take advantage of. And if you rush your own moves, you may make exactly the kind of mistakes that could cost you the game.
From the second round onwards, some players continued to play at lightning speed. Perhaps they simply love fast chess! But there were still some useful learning opportunities.
For example, we saw a few illegal moves, including the classic situation where one hand moves the piece while the other hand presses the clock. These moments provided a natural opportunity to explain what counts as an illegal move and why players need to be careful about following tournament rules — especially when they eventually play in more serious competitions.
There were also moments when a player overlooked a check.
“Look at your king! Is it safe to play this move?”
Rather than simply treating every mistake as a punishment, these situations became opportunities to learn. Players could correct their moves, understand what they had missed, and continue playing without a bad aftertaste.
And of course, one important rule was reinforced:
No king captures!
Concentration when it matters
Despite the relaxed atmosphere, the competitive side of the CYC was very real.
There were smiles everywhere, and at times the atmosphere almost felt like another activity at a birthday party. But whenever players were fighting for an important point, the room could suddenly become completely silent.
You could see the concentration.
You could feel the determination.
For young players, this combination is valuable. They can experience the excitement of competition without feeling that every game has to be a high-pressure event.
The goal is not simply to win. It is to gradually become more comfortable with the experience of sitting across from another player, thinking independently, dealing with mistakes, managing the clock and trying to find the best moves.
That is something that is difficult to learn from let's say online games alone.
A perfect 5/5
There was also some very strong chess on display.
Jingfei Jie won all five games, finishing the first CYC with a perfect 5/5.
But every participant had something to celebrate. All players received a certificate, and everyone showed excellent behaviour and sportsmanship throughout the afternoon.
And there was plenty of motivation on the tables, too!
Small chess-themed prizes — including posters, chess-piece-shaped erasers, chess bags and chess-themed rugs and scarves — were available for the top six players.
Everyone knew what was at stake!
Chess, outside the chessboard
The afternoon wasn't limited to tournament games either.
Some players also enjoyed garden chess, giving them another way to interact with the game and with each other.
This is exactly the kind of atmosphere we want to create at Chessaka: a place where children can come to play chess with other children, compete, learn from their games and simply enjoy spending time around chess.
Why regular tournament play matters
The CYC is based on a simple idea: young players need opportunities to play real games regularly if they want to improve.
Playing games teaches things that lessons alone cannot fully replicate:
How to manage your time
How to respond when your opponent plays quickly
How to stay calm after making a mistake
How to recognize checks and threats during a real game
How to follow tournament rules
How to concentrate when the position becomes difficult
How to win and lose with good sportsmanship
And, most importantly, how to enjoy playing chess with other people
The CYC is therefore not intended to be an intimidating tournament. It is social chess with a flavour of competition.
Whether a player is a complete beginner or already an experienced young chess player, everyone between 6 and 18 years old who knows the rules of chess is welcome.
Players are grouped according to playing strength and/or age, and every player plays all five rounds. There is no knockout — so everyone gets a full afternoon of chess.
The next CYC is coming soon!
After such a successful first event, we're looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the 2nd Chessaka Youth Cup on 10 October.
Five rounds of rapid chess. New opponents. New lessons. New chances to win.
And, of course, plenty of fun.
See you at Chessaka!
