Credit: The family's campaign on spotfund.com
While most kindergartners are still learning their ABCs, 6-year-old Sav Strickland of Summerville is learning how to outthink adults — one move at a time. This December, Sav will travel to Spokane, Washington, to compete in the Kindergarten Division of the National K-12 Grade Chess Championships, one of the largest scholastic chess tournaments in the country.
Sav discovered chess at just 3 years old and quickly showed an extraordinary ability to focus, plan ahead, and visualize complex positions beyond his age. Since then, he has earned a Chess.com rating of more than 1,100, won first place in two local quad tournaments, and tied for second place at the Tunnel Vision Tournament in Columbia, competing against adults and teenagers in the under-1,000 section.
“Watching Sav play is like watching a young grandmaster in the making,” said his father and co-coach, Jarrett Strickland. “He studies openings, tactics, and endgames with a level of focus that amazes everyone who meets him. This national tournament will give him the chance to represent South Carolina and test himself against the best kindergarten players in America.”
The Strickland family is raising funds to help cover travel, lodging, and tournament expenses through an online fundraiser at http://spot.fund/fvw24m1sc.