Ten-year-old Cariboo chess prodigy Kai Richardson is now the second-ranked under-12 player in the province after a solid showing last month representing Team Canada at the World Youth Chess Championships.
Kai, who was the top-ranked under-10 Canadian player heading into the tournament — hosted this year in the United Arab Emirates and showcasing close to 2,000 players from around the world — finished 79th out of 198 competitors in his age group after posting a four-win, two-draw and five-loss record.
“It was a good experience. I’m satisfied [with the way I played],” said Kai, who put in six hours a day studying chess books by grandmasters, watching matches and studying videos leading up to the two-week long event that began Dec. 18 and wrapped up Dec. 28.
“I could’ve played better, though. We didn’t quite get the time difference down. It was a 12-hour time difference from UAE time to Canada time, so that messes you up and makes you tired when you’re playing.”
And in a game where matches can last anywhere from three to five hours, Kai said staying mentally and physically sharp is of the utmost importance.
“Playing that many rounds takes a lot of stamina so you always have to prepare,” he said. “You have to prepare not only mentally, but physically, just like a sport.”
Kai, who travelled to the event with his mother, Aki Yamamoto, played 11 rounds of chess over the 10-day event. Aki added if he does qualify and decides to compete at another World Youth Chess Championship he’ll be better prepared.
“It’s a great experience even if he doesn’t do chess anymore just to be able to say he competed on that level and went through the whole process,” Aki said.
During the tournament Kai faced opponents from Canada, Bulgaria, China, France, Russia and Germany.
“Only two of my opponents spoke English,” Kai said. “But you don’t talk to them, so it doesn’t matter.
“After a while you both know what each other is thinking and you also know what you’re thinking, and you both try to prevent what you think the other person is going to do. There are openings you look for. You theorize them, and you’ve studied them before so you know what to do.”
Kai, as of Jan. 1, is now in the 12-and-under division — up from the 10-and-under age group he competed in at the WYCC. His World Chess Federation rating is currently 1,740.
After a bit of time off he said he plans to continue to play chess and will compete at the B.C. Open in Richmond this February.
“It’s going to be funny because all the players on Team Canada, pretty soon they’re going to be enemies,” he joked. “We’ll be back here playing.”