Weekly Reflection- Reflecting on a tragedy that shook the chess world

To my fellow chess friends,

We had a rough week. We didn't just lose any chess player; we lost one of our own. We lost an educator, a commentator, and a teacher molded by the philosophies of graciousness, forgiveness, empathy, and compassion. Danya was truly an inspiration, leading us all with the vision that he could one day bring joy and happiness to every life he touched.

As expected, this week has brought our lives a lot of different emotions. Throughout our journey of acceptance, we've experienced the sadness of losing a cherished teacher, friend, and, for some, an idol. We've experienced waves of anger and frustration as we've grappled with what led Vladimir Kramnik to drive such a kind spirit into the ground with his baseless accusations. We've also experienced other emotions, like fear, sorrow, and, most of all, a deep sense of appreciation for what Danya, a man larger than life, has done for our community.

While I read many different posts throughout the week, many of which were filled with guilt, shock, and admiration, I realized that so many are wondering how we will move forward, how we will coexist with an existential threat to all of us chess players- the threats posed by those who want, more than anything, to take down those who succeed. Sadly, people like Vladimir Kramnik will always exist in our world, and there's nothing we can do about it.

As I struggled to deal with the news that broke on Monday morning, my GM coach, Max Illingworth, suggested a different approach. He told me that taking a break is normal in such situations, and that, although my neurodivergence makes me go 100 miles per hour, being in harmony with my soul is necessary for mental clarity. While I couldn't stop thinking that I wasn't doing well enough, his words of compassion lifted my soul through one of the most difficult Mondays I've ever experienced.

Since taking a break from chess, I've discovered something far more powerful and pertinent than even a new tactic could bring —a new mindset that rocked me to my core. Every night, I sang myself to sleep, releasing my emotions through George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." By singing, I released a spiritual side of me, a side that had never revealed itself through nights of overeating and playing video games.

Although George Harrison wrote his song in 1968, many of the lessons are relevant today. Even though we fail to admit it, we live in a world where love and kindness can dominate our society. We must not let our love go under our beds sleeping, because the community we live in needs it at a time when we're all rocked by tragedy. I hope that throughout this week, you reflect on who you are, the warmth in your heart, and how you can pass it forward.

I want to share with you a game that Danya played, as I try to narrate it the way he might to a student:

Thanks so much for viewing my post, and I hope together, we can heal our community and become stronger than ever.

Want to tap into your spiritual side? I recommend you check out these links and see for yourself how singing can bring you peace and joy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C58ttB2-Qg&list=RD0C58ttB2-Qg&start_radio=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI8P6ZSHSvE&list=RDbI8P6ZSHSvE&start_radio=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWTvkcHlOPQ&list=RDXWTvkcHlOPQ&start_radio=1