Chess Student Spotlight: Brian Dai

2026 is off to a strong start for Elite Academy student Brian Dai–he won the Connecticut Scholastic Championship! After winning his first three games and drawing his fourth, Brian defeated his opponent in a final tiebreak round to claim victory and become the Connecticut state champion. Congratulations to Brian on this huge accomplishment! 

Here’s the end of a key win from the tournament, annotated by Brian:

To celebrate, we spoke to Brian and his coaches about his skills on and off the chess board, as well as some of his favorite things about chess. 

Brian as a Chess Student

Brian shows off an impressive pair of trophies.

Since joining SIlver Knights, Brian has studied under GM Johan Hellsten, who was excited to learn of his championship win. "Brian is one of the most active students in my classes at SKCA. Armed with a sharp tactical eye, he comes up with a lot of interesting ideas,” Hellsten said. “Also, he doesn't hesitate to challenge the coach's conclusions whenever he feels it's justified – that's a virtue for any growing chess player! 

“Sometimes we face each other in practice games, simuls, etc., [and] then I know that I have to be very careful :-) Ever since he joined the Elite classes, I get the impression that he has become a bit more all-round efficient in different aspects of the game."

In addition to his weekly classes, Brian enjoys attending Book Club with Coach Luke and Coach’s Choice with FM Gustavo Cadena. Like GM Hellsten, FM Cadena was quick to point out Brian’s tactical skills. “Brian is a kid who consistently spots every tactical idea in the quizzes,” he said. “He has a very sharp tactical eye and impressive tactical strength.”

Coach Luke appreciates Brian’s effort and tenacity as a player. “I often use a chili pepper scale to describe the selected puzzles in Book Club. Brian is always ready for more chili peppers. He’s always up for a challenge, whether it’s a four chili pepper puzzle or volunteering to play out a tricky position.”

Our Chat With Brian

Daniel Weissbarth: How did you learn to play chess?
Brian Dai: It was two years ago when I was at my old school, and my mom asked me if I wanted to sign up for the chess club there, and I excitedly said yes. When I got there, I learned the pieces from a coach, and then I learned how to play.
DW: Do you remember your first tournament and what happened?
BD: So [at my] first tournament, I didn’t know that there were ratings, and I think I only won one game, and that was against another unrated [player]. After I won my game, I started skipping to the other side of the tournament hall. [laughs]
DW: That’s not, like, the best sportsmanship in the world, but you probably don’t do that now.
BD: No.

Brian's Chess Favorites

DW: What’s your favorite thing about playing chess?
BD: When you’re losing and you somehow win, and then you feel so great that your opponent blundered and feel so relieved about the game.
DW: That’s a great answer. I love that. I never feel better about a game than when I didn’t earn the win.
BD: Yeah.
DW: Who’s your favorite chess player?
BD: Ooh, this is a hard one. I’ve always liked Mikhail Tal’s attacking style because he sacrifices even if his pieces are also being attacked. 
DW: What’s your favorite chess book?
BD: When I was a beginner, I started with Levy Rozman’s “How To Win at Chess”, and then I moved on to stuff like “Chess: 5,334 Problems, Combinations, and Games” by Laszlo Polgar. In that book, I started doing mate-in-threes until someone told me that the mate-in-twos were even harder because they had quiet moves and stuff.
DW: Those are hard mate-in-twos (example 2809, chosen literally at random, is below). I just read the Levy Rozman book–did you like it?
BD: Yeah, I loved it. I especially liked the traps I could use online because they were tactical, and I was, like, so tactical back then.

Challenging Coach Johan

DW: What’s your favorite part of class with Coach Johan?
BD: I like the weekly practice after the puzzles and other studying because that’s practically the only time I get to play against a grandmaster
DW: What’s your favorite thing you’ve learned from Johan?
BD: The lifeline tactic. It’s pretty cool. You take a piece while defending another piece that was previously being attacked. Like, after they take your piece, then you take it back. 

Here’s one of Coach Johan’s lifeline puzzles. Black just played …d5-d4. How can White deal with the pin in a good way? See if you can spot the solution:

Brian Off the Board

DW: What’s your favorite non-chess book?
BD: I’ve always liked “Hamstersaurus Rex".It’s a book about a tiny hamster that becomes a dino mutant hamster that, in the second book, was accused of destroying a school, but it was really a giant squirrel that destroyed it. 
DW: What do you like to do besides chess?
BD: I’m a big math fan, and recently I learned how to ski with my new school. It’s pretty fun.

Brian and a classmate suited up to hit the slopes.

DW: What math stuff do you do?
BD: I’m currently learning Algebra 2.
Brian’s Mom: He just likes [math]. Also, he’s writing a story.
BD: Every day.
Brian’s Mom: [to Brian] What’s your story? “Michael’s Career”? It’s regarding a chess coach.
BD: It’s kind of a random story that I randomly started making like a year ago. 
DW: Well, if you ever want someone to read it, I love reading books about chess.
BD: I’m not done with it yet.
DW: No rush.