10 year old champ

West Jordan 10-year-old named speed chess champ
Game » Kayden Troff practices chess six to seven hours a day.

By Natalie Dicou
Close-up Staff
Posted: 02/22/2009 07:11:02 PM MST

At first glance, 10-year-old chess phenom Kayden Troff seems like a typical little boy. If he sat across from you at a chess board, you might think to yourself, “I’ll go easy on the kid.”

The truth about the West Jordan child: He is one of the elite elementary-school chess players in the country.

He trounces practically everyone he plays — adults included.

Earlier this month, Kayden won the Utah Speed Chess Championship, an event that drew many of the top Utah chess players in the state. Of all ages. In speed or “blitz” chess, each player has five minutes to complete the game.

If their time runs out, they lose.

How did it feel to become the youngest player — by far — to ever win the event?

“Awesome,” Kayden said, his face breaking into a huge smile.

Although Kayden is a normal child in many ways — he loves Nintendo and playing with his brothers — he is also driven to succeed. He practices chess six to seven hours a day, studying problems and competing online against players from across the world. He intends to become a grandmaster someday.

“I’ve watched him play for years and years now,” said Kim Troff, Kayden’s mother who homeschools him. “The truth is, I don’t think it ever stops amazing me.

Here is the full article.