In just a few years, 24-year-old Australian Twitch streamer Hannah Sayce went from playing casual online games during lockdown, to earning the Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title and competing in international tournaments. Her post-lockdown rise has taken her from below 1000 to a 2300 Chess.com blitz rating. In this conversation, Hannah shares the highs and lows of her chess journey and the strategies behind her rapid improvement. Key turning points included learning to slow down at the board and forcing herself to embrace endgame study despite her resistance. Hannah’s rapid progress is inspiring to young girls and adult improvers alike—and it was fun to hear her story. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.
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0:02- What is Hannah’s approach to streaming and prepping for Titled Tuesdays?
Mentioned:
7:00- Overcoming the Nerves of OTB chess
12:00- We discuss Hannah’s chess- improvement philosophy as originally laid out in her popular YouTube video, How I Went from 700 to 2200 in 2 Years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCBGNjddiTE
Specifically she touched on these 7 themes:
Play longer time controls
Develop calculating skills
Journal decisions
Analyze your games
Practice your tactics
Calculate before you move
Study master games
18:00- How Hannah will work on her endgames
Mentioned: Notjowol on Twitch
https://www.twitch.tv/notjowol
20:00- Why does Hannah stream the lessons that she gets?
21:00- What are Hannah’s current chess goals?
22:00- How did Hannah get into chess?
24:00- Hannah’s advice for girls getting into chess
28:00- Hannah’s favorite chess books and authors
Mentioned: Modern Chess Openings, IM Jeremy Silman, GM Yasser Seirawan
30:00- Hannah’s favorite Chess Youtubers:
Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen, GM Daniel Naroditsky, GM Ben Finegold, Hanging Pawns
32:00- What is the chess scene like in Melbourne?
33:00- Hannah’s favorite OTB tournament
Mentioned: The Rilton Cup
35:00- Hannah’s post-university plans and non-chess hobbies
39:00- Thanks to Hannah for joining the show! Here is how to follow her continued progress:
Hannah’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/anichessgame/?hl=en
Hannah’s Twitch:
https://www.twitch.tv/hannahsayce
Hannah’s Chess.com:
https://www.chess.com/member/hannahsaycestreams
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@hannahsayce1
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