‘More than a hobby’: Macon high school chess champ is competing around the world

It is hard to believe that Annie Shih, a sophomore at Stratford Academy, is only 15 years old when she speaks about her dedication and accomplishments as a chess player. That dedication has led her to compete in chess tournaments far beyond Macon.

She began playing at 7 years old when her father taught her and her brother, Danny, who is two years younger, the basics of the strategic game.

“We had a lot of fun together,” Annie said. “Little by little we were improving, then he looked for a coach, and in not a lot of time, we were playing in chess tournaments.”

Annie traveled recently to Honduras to compete in the XVII Central American and Caribbean Youth Chess Competition.

She played in the U-18 category and placed third, securing the title of Women FIDE Master. FIDE is the Fédération Internationale des Échecs, an international organization that oversees chess federations around the world.

Annie said that she’s had a great deal of support from the staff and student body at Stratford Academy, especially during her competition in Honduras.

Her math teacher, Preston Earle, has been one of her biggest supporters. She said that he also plays chess, so he understands the work that goes into it.

“Annie is a kind, respectful, and perceptive student,” Earle said. “I hope that I am able to help her become an even better student as she continues her academic career at Stratford. Furthermore, I hope that she is able to help me become a better chess player as we continue to play and learn together.”

Annie’s success in competitions came quickly after she learned the game. In her first year, she placed second in the national U-8 category. In only her second year, she earned first place and was named National Champion.

“That really motivated me to keep going forward and think of it as more than a hobby,” Annie said.

She said one of her favorite parts of competing is getting to meet other people and learn about new cultures.

She has traveled to Brazil, Spain, Panama, El Salvador, Venezuela, Cuba, among other locations to compete in chess tournaments. Annie has been able to make friends during tournaments who she keeps in contact with after the matches.

The friendships are a bonus to the hard work. Chess tournaments involve long days of focus.

Annie said the average tournament day has two rounds, with the first round often starting in the morning. Games usually last between three and four hours, so when the first round is complete, there is a lunch break. After the lunch break, players jump right back in for the second round of the day with another long game.

She said that part of her training involves running and exercising to build her stamina and help her be able to keep up her mental energy.

To prepare for tournaments, Annie says she will study different techniques and strategies and solve puzzles to exercise her brain.

Annie said that while she studies players worldwide, she has a favorite, Susan Polgar.

Polgar is a Hungarian American chess player who was the third woman to be named Grandmaster by FIDE, which is the highest title a chess player can obtain.

“She has had a lot of achievements and won many competitions all around the world,” Annie said. “I would like to follow her example and inspire other people and share my knowledge.”

Along with becoming an inspiration for others, Annie has a defined list of goals for herself. She said that short term, she would like to represent Stratford in school tournaments and improve her ranking.

In what Annie calls the “middle term,” she hopes to win the International Women Master title.

Long term, she said she wants to start a local club for chess players in Macon so that people of all ages can play together and they can find young talent to represent their schools.

She said she believes that chess is good for young people and that more schools should have teams available for their students.

“Chess is really good for memory, discipline, focus, analysis, problem-solving, and everything, so I feel like it’s very helpful,” Annie said.

She hopes to continue playing chess at the college level where she plans to study medicine and become a doctor.