Mr. Steve Owens just pointed out to me that NM Eric Schiller recently posted the following on chessgames.com:
“I have a question. One of my students in the CalChess scholastics is a kindergarten girl who is blind. She won 17th place with an even score. I believe she may be the youngest sightless person to play in a rated event, but don’t know of any record keeping.
Is anyone aware of such a young person competing in rated tournament play? Rio loves chess and attends the weekly chess class I teach in her school. This was her third tournament, but the first at a slow enough time control for her to win some games.”
Does anyone know the answer? Is she the youngest ever? Thanks in advance for your help. Thanks Steve and Eric for this very interesting question.
It does sound like a record to me.
what a great achievement!
Susan,
How old is this girl? Do you know if she learnt to play chess before she went blind or after?
Wow! Great achievment! Cannot even imagine doing anything like that. Record or no record, this girl will go places with that kind of dedication. All the best to her 🙂
Susan,
You should contact NTD Tim Just.
Tim runs the USCF Blind Championship each year.
I am also on chessgames.com as chesstoplay.
Hope this is a helpful step in the right direction.
Peter