On December 22, 2024, Taiwan Youth Chess Association (TYCA) coaches and the two autistic children in the Infinite Chess Project, has joined the Taipei National School Cup Team Chess Championship. It is not only an exciting experience but also a heartwarming story of courage and growth. As part of the Infinite Chess Project, we proudly brought these children to their first open chess competition, making a transformative new chapter in their chess journey
The toughest part of this new challenge was the emotional support and preparation before the chess competition. The night before the tournament, the two young participants, Kai and Wen, grappled with anxiety. Kai repeatedly asked, “What if I break the rules? Will people get mad at me?” Meanwhile, Wen remained silent, but we can sense his anxiety through his eyes.
TYCA coaches, understanding the unique needs of these ASD children, went above and beyond in their preparations. Mock matches were organized to simulate the tournament environment, and the children’s favorite items were brought to provide comfort. Volunteers reassured the children with words of encouragement: “Just try your best, like you always do. We’ll be right here with you.” These thoughtful measures laid the foundation for the children’s courage as they stepped into the tournament.
The tournament consisted of five rounds, each posing unique challenges for our AD children. In the first round, Wen has violated the rule of conduct by moving the chess piece and chess clock with two hands. His illegal moves and mistakes were caused by nervousness, leaving him visibly upset. We have knelt beside him, offering comfort and encouragement: “Everyone makes mistakes, but what’s important is having the courage to get back up and finish what you started.” We spent a lot of time explaining and reminding him the chess rule of conduct and rebuilt his comfort and courage. Finally, Wen returned to the chessboard with renewed determination.
Kai faced his own struggles too, especially when early losses triggered thoughts of giving up. However, with gentle guidance from the TYCA coaches and his grandmother, who emphasized the importance of completing each move rather than obsessing over the final outcome, Kai regained his focus. By the final round, Kai displayed remarkable composure, transforming his initial fear and negative emotion into determination to finish strong and complete the tournament.
Although neither child won any of the five rounds, they manage to secure the last round with a draw and earning each a ½ points. Even though our team was the placing the last, but our journey was marked with significant victories. The ASD children have overcame their fears, stayed committed, coped with their emotions, and grew from the experience with every move they made. After the tournament, children left the venue with smiles and a sense of accomplishment. Not only we have accomplished a new chapter for the ASD children, we have also built up the concept of teammates and foster courage between them. The event not only broadened ASD children’s horizon but also reinforced our commitment to support their development. We look forward to bringing more children with autism to tournaments in the future, continuing our mission of guiding ASD children with Infinite Chess.
Thank you so much for your unwavering support and for making this journey possible. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Infinite Chess, bringing more children with autism into the world of chess and empowering them every step of the way.
Warmest regards,
Taiwan Youth Chess Association (TYCA)