Growing up in North Carolina, I became my state's youngest-ever master at the age of 16. (I wasn't a "FunMaster" until a few years later!)
But a boy a few years younger than me came along and smashed my record! Matthew Hoekstra was about five years younger than me but became a master at 14. He was a more talented player, and went on to even play in a U.S. Championship!
We didn't play in kid chess tournaments since there was that five-year gap in age, but we did play a few times in adult tournaments. This was the first game we ever played. He walked right into an opening I had just studied, lucky for me:
Despite me winning in 18 moves, Matthew caught up and passed me in rating. We went on to play three more times, with one win, one draw, and one loss each in them.
Matthew now works in Washington, D.C. as a lobbyist.
For more on checkmating the black king in the Sicilian, check out Benzoo's video!
See you next Wednesday for "FunMasterMike's Most Fun Moments!"