If there is one simple quote I have gotten from more than a decade of locating good moves on the chess board is Keep Fighting. It is just two simple words, but trust me, it becomes way harder to stay true to them when the going gets tough. Battling through a series of challenges and not having what to do can be the hardest time to stick by this mantra: Keep Fighting.
During my early days of learning the game of chess, I felt that once I could master the movement of all the pieces, I would be better off at beating most of my friends and classmates. Yeah, at some point I got to do that, but soon enough I realized there is more to what meets the eye when it comes to chess. There are more concepts of the game to be studied, like opening, middlegames, and endgames. In fact, that is not all. Some external psychological factors come with the game, like having a winning mindset before the game, keeping calm when things are not going well on the board, and even the art of fighting when the position looks bad.
I even remember a tournament I played way back in 2021, where I lost the first game badly. You know something where you lose in grand style or in flying colors. Everything I played seemed bad or was wrong, and my opponent just kept capitalizing on it nonstop until he finally got the win. This loss was good enough to lose my morale to continue with the event. It felt bad more because I tried to put up a fight, but something along the line did not just work out for me. During the break before the next round, I told myself the truth. Why am I feeling bad for one loss when there are still more games to go? I just lost a fight, but the battle is not over.
The event continued, and I knew deep down within me I had to put up a fight. I did not stop, and I played every game with the fighting instinct in me. Losing the first game felt like a process that has led me to this point. Fortunately for me, I went on to win all my remaining games despite losing the opening game of the event. That was how I claimed the trophy for the Hopkins Chess Championship. My first open tournament trophy.
I can go on and on about chess stories like this one, mine and other people's stories included. But one thing I have come to realize is that nothing good ever comes easy. It requires consistent fighting just to claim it, and together when you break down from a hurdle encountered. Keep fighting has more to do with life than it has to do with chess. It is mainly about your response to challenges and defeat when it comes knocking at your door. Do you face it head-on or run from it? This decision alone will tell how victorious the story will end.
And just like chess, life will hit you hard more than you expect it will or more than you expect. Your perseverance and determination will say a lot about how you come out on the other side. Just like gold has to go through burning lava before being transformed into a finished product one can wear for beautification, that's how life will teach its lessons.
I am @samostically, a chess player and writer. I love to share the experience I have gained from different battles over the 64 squares and the knowledgeable insights from books I have read. But most importantly, I am a Midnight Owl and I founded the community Midnight Letters.
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amazing mindset i adore how you turned that painful loss into motivation to win the rest of the tournament truly inspiring,. Fighting always 💪
Thank you!
I didn’t go to church today but the few posts I’ve come across have just been hitting the right nerve.
This, is very inspiring.
The phrase’Keep fighting’ sounds so simple, but really hits different when you’ve actually been through struggles that test your resolve. I admire y’all with a knack for playing chess.
Thank you! Always glad to see you stop by. Happy new week!
Awww. It’s always a pleasure. Have a beautiful week too Sam 🌸
It is easy to say it, than doing it....
To Keep Fighting you have to be strong within you (The Mindset)... No matter what you are passing through, always remember that you have to Keep Fighting... Just like we all know this saying about football, "No Winner, Until the last whistle is being blow..."
Yes, it's not over until it's over. Thanks for stopping by.
Exactly 💯
yes you have to keep figthing because everything in life has all circumstance. I love the spirit of continung figthning.
There is another quote that says if you snooze you lose, to win means continue going, keep fighting because immediately you stop fighting you won't win the game anymore, if in life, victory is only for those who didn't stop fighting
keep putting up a fight and never give up.... I love that chess is a mind game and I think it's something my kids will be involved in ....
most fascinating is how this game is life applicable ...
weldone sam
Thank you!
you're welcome my boss
Wow, what an inspiring and thoughtful piece this is....
Obviously, beyond being a chess rule, the term "keep fighting" is also a life rule. Fall and rise happen to everyone, but the most important is to never stay grounded but get back up and push through.
A big congrats on your comeback. 💯
Thanks for sharing.
💯❤️💯
The word keep fighting, may sound simple but there's a deep meaning if we look at it very well. This post is very inspiring. Honestly, if someone that's passing through a lot read this post, he/she will definitely be motivated and inspired to keep fighting just like how you keep fighting without backing out eventhough you wanted but you didn't, you pushed yourself to keep fighting. Nice write-up. 👏👏
Seriously this is inspiring
The keep fighting is applied today in all of our endeavour because the the day you stop fighting or being consistent
You tend to loose everything and starts from sqaurae