“Chess is so inclusive … It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, you are fat or thin, or you’re male or female, or you’re whatever, your abilities and whatever your circumstances are, chess is chess. You can sit down and play.”

“I definitely believe that you should never give up because then you’re stopping yourself from continuing something that could be fun, could be exciting. And, even if you fail, there’s something to learn from that experience.”

Jennifer Shahade revealed that after having given up chess for a couple of years in junior high school to pursue other creative subjects, such as writing and acting, Shahade returned to the game in high school. She said she was lucky to come back to it, since chess has given her so much.

“… I think it’s really important in all things that we do that we have role models who can support us or mentor us in the things that we care about, and chess certainly is no different. I’m a member of the FIDE Women’s Commission, and we have worked to get 2022 [named] the year of women in chess for FIDE.”

“So, there’s this friendship [and] camaraderie that you get when you’re competing at an all-girls tournament that you don’t necessarily get when you’re playing at regular tournaments.”

“I just want to say I haven’t seen this kind of mix between community and competition [before], because normally there’s one or the other. And I just think that once you join, you really make some of your best friends.”