"Some kids think I'm some kind of weirdo. I probably am weirder than most people."

"You can't worry about intimidating me and playing the game at the same time."

"The great thing about chess is it's a game for oneself. You don't work on what you can't control, you just work on yourself. And I think if more people did that, we'd all be a lot better off."

"When your opponent is tied up, always be patient and search for the simplest option."

"Time and again, players lose because they make rash decisions. Therefore, you always have to remind yourself - don't hurry. Embarking on a risky combination that cannot be calculated to the end is certainly not the right thing to do." 

"After every move, ask yourself what does my opponent want to do to me, and how can I prevent it?"

"It's not 64 squares. It's a battlefield. There's no luck, there's no dice. It's just you and your opponent."

"The game is a war, and in a war you fight. My opponent is just the director of the opponent's army."

"I think of myself as playing against the board, and not against my opponent."

Dasvidaniya Danya. Rest in Peace, Sensei.

Oct. 23, 2025, 5:16 p.m.

Written bY CYril