Aaron and Sophia Schein are a brother-and-sister tandem who study chess together and attend Horace Mann School in Riverdale, NY. They are both young and rapidly improving; Aaron at age 8 is already rated over 1100, and Sophia at only age 6 has acquired solid tournament experience that will serve her very well in the coming years! The best sign that they have chess potential is that both have already played in many scholastic tournaments, including the New York State Scholastic Championships, and the Nationals. For those who are not aware of what “the Nationals” are, they are a series of tournaments that draw up to 5,000+ chessplayers from across the country grades K-12. They are perhaps most famous for being the topic of the climactic scenes in the movie “Searching for Bobby Fischer.” They are every bit as serious as depicted in that movie, with six-foot-tall trophies as prizes for the winners. The most recent version of the Nationals this past April, “Supernationals III” in Nashville, TN drew 5,042 players in 18(!) different grade and rating sections, over only 3 days!
During a session at the NYChessKids Summer Camp, I recently had the chance to ask Aaron and Sophia a few questions. This is what they told me:
André Harding: “When did you learn chess?” Aaron Schein: “Two-and-a-half or three.” André Harding: “Really? Wow! Former World Champion Anatoly Karpov, my favorite chessplayer, learned at four…I myself only learned at eight…you really had quite a head start!” Aaron Schein: “Well, I guess…but I only started playing in tournaments a couple of years ago.” André Harding: “If you keep studying, you will become a master FOR SURE, because you have so much time. I only wish I started playing tournaments when I was in Kindergarten, instead of in 7 th grade! You are very fortunate.” André Harding: “Who taught you chess?” Aaron Schein: “My dad.” André Harding: “What is your favorite subject in school?” Aaron Schein: “I’m not sure yet…right now I don’t really have one, but right now it looks like it’s going to be math.” André Harding: “What are your interests outside of chess and school?” Aaron Schein: “Football, basketball, tennis…lots of sports!” André Harding: “Thank you for the interview, and good luck!” Aaron Schein: “You’re welcome.” André Harding: “When did you learn chess?” Sophia Schein: “When I was four or five.” André Harding: “Who taught you how to play?” Sophia Schein: “I learned in school, but my dad helped me too and my brother shows me some things.” André Harding: “What is your favorite subject in school?” Sophia Schein: “Science!” André Harding: “What are your interests outside of chess and school?” Sophia Schein: “Sports and reading.” André Harding: “Thank you for the interview and best of luck!” Sophia Schein: “Thank you!"
Stay tuned for more interviews each month with more rising stars from the NYChessKids family!
and attend Horace Mann School in Riverdale, NY. They are both young and rapidly improving; Aaron at age 8 is already rated over 1100, and Sophia at only age 6 has acquired solid tournament experience that will serve her very well in the coming years! The best sign that they have chess potential is that both have already played in many scholastic tournaments, including the New York State Scholastic Championships, and the Nationals. For those who are not aware of what “the Nationals” are, they are a series of tournaments that draw up to 5,000+ chessplayers from across the country grades K-12. They are perhaps most famous for being the topic of the climactic scenes in the movie “Searching for Bobby Fischer.” They are every bit as serious as depicted in that movie, with six-foot-tall trophies as prizes for the winners. The most recent version of the Nationals this past April, “Supernationals III” in Nashville, TN drew 5,042 players in 18(!) different grade and rating sections, over only 3 days!