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Tori Whatley - 2008 Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls

Page history last edited by Mike Games 15 years, 6 months ago

 

Tori Whatley

 

Name; Hannah Victoria Whatley (We call her “Tori”.)

 

Age; 12

 

Hometown; North Augusta, S.C.

 

Family; My dad is David, my mom is Melinda, and I have a 16 year old sister, Mandy (she’s won trophies for coon hunting and beauty pageants.  Weird, huh?)

 

How long have you been playing chess?  4-1/2 years

 

How’d you get started?  I found a rook to my dad’s chess set in the closet one day and asked him to teach the game to me.  Soon after, I learned that our school had a chess club and I asked to join.

 

How much time do you spend practicing?  Usually, about 2 hours a week for regular practice, and 2-3 hours on puzzles.  My dad likes to set them up on an actual board rather than have me solve them from the book.

 

Who was your biggest chess influence?  My first real influence was Keith Eubanks.  During my first year in chess, Keith was the S.C. State Champion and we attended a tournament where he took the time to play a skittles game with me.  Since then, I’ve been influenced by my coach, Donny Gray, who’s helped me a lot and also Susan Polgar, because of her accomplishments and the fact that both of us started chess in about the same way.

 

Have you met any famous chess players? I played Irina Krush in a Dallas simul in April 2008.  She won on her 46th move.  I met Susan Polgar at the SP National Invitational for Girls in Lubbock on July 26th, 2008.  Susan’s sister, Sofia and I have talked on the phone a few times while I was taking lessons from her.

 

What was your proudest chess moment?  My first proudest moment was winning my first trophy in 2006 (3rd place).  It was at the Lowcountry Chess Tournament in Beaufort, S.C.  Mr. Bush presented it to me and I held it in my lap all the way back to North Augusta!  My next proudest moment was learning that I would represent the state at the SP National Invitational in Lubbock, TX.  Drawing Tennessee’s Autumn Douthitt (485 points above my rating) in round two, and defeating Susan Brown of Virginia (305 points above me) in the sixth round at the SP Invitational would rank way up there on proudest moments.

 

What other hobbies do you enjoy?  I like to draw and sketch.  I also play flute in the school band.  Magic is another thing that fascinates me.  In fact, David Grimaud posted a youtube video of me performing a trick when we were at the SPNI.  You can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOvvdPMyzkk I like most all the other things that someone my age would enjoy, like the Jonas Brothers!  

 

Would you recommend chess to other kids?  Yes!  I’ve already taught five of my friends to play!  It’s a cool game that helps you think logically, and you get to make new friends all over the state, and all over the country.

 

What advise do you have for beginners?  Stick with it!  Don’t give up.  It took a while before I won my first trophy, then I started winning more as I improved. 

 

What are your chess goals?  First, I want to make sure I qualify to return to the SPNI!  I had so much fun and made so many friends!  I really would like to be the youngest and first female S.C. State Champion.  I don’t believe a girl has done that yet, but I don’t know who was the youngest male champion we’ve had.  After that, we’ll see. 

 

Grandmaster Susan Polgar and our own Tori Whatley in Dallas at 2008 Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls.

 

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