Chess may be the most popular game at MST, so it’s no wonder that a champion has emerged from within our ranks. Ginkgo student Eito Nishida received his top ranking for U10 in Japan after beating the field at the All Japan Cadets Tournament. As a result, he will be representing Japan at the Asian Youth Chess Championship in Kazakhstan, June 9-21.
With the top ranking, Eito can be awarded the ACM (Arena Candidate Master) title by FIDA, the international governing body of chess, which precedes the CM title. There are only around 1,700 active CMs in the world, and few active players in Japan with any chess title. With such a head start, Eito is well on his way to obtaining the Grandmaster (GM) title.
The GM title would be his with the championship and he would be the first Japanese to ever win the Asian Youth Chess Championship. Whatever the result, it is a monumental achievement just reaching the tournament.
Eito only began learning chess in 2021 and has competed around the world including in San Francisco, New York, London, and Delhi. His favorite opening? The Fried Liver Attack, which involves sacrificing a knight to trap the king. His favorite piece? “I like the knight because it can hop around. But I think the pawn is the most important. A chessmaster said it is the soul of chess.”
When asked if anyone at MST had beaten him, unsurprisingly, he said, “No one.” But in true Montessorian fashion, Eito wrote a book about chess for his classmates so they can improve their game.
Eito's parents emphasize the experience and the personal and social growth of participating in the global chess community. Explains his mother Noriko, “Chess is like a language used worldwide, and there are fellow players all around the globe. We think it's great how hobbies connect people regardless of age, gender, or borders.”
Good luck and have fun, Eito!
—Wind Edward Kim