Chess Student Spotlight: Kelton Holm

Kelton Holm has been a strong chess player and student for quite some time. According to Grandmaster Johan Hellsten, his chess coach in the Elite Academy, Kelton has always been a "very attentive and active student who often points out important details about the intricacies of the battle during lessons."

That attention paid off this spring, when Kelton won the Iowa State Middle School Championship! With this result, he qualified to represent Iowa at the Rockefeller Chess Tournament in July. To celebrate, we spoke with him about his chess journey, favorite chess players, and how he likes to spend his time away from the chess board. 

Kelton with his first place trophy.

Interview With the Iowa State Chess Champion 

Silver Knights: How did you learn to play chess? How did you get started?

Kelton Holm: I was in kindergarten and we went to the library, and I saw a book by Garry Kasparov that I started reading. Then my dad started to teach me how to play chess. It kind of started from there, and I was a quick learner.

SK: When did you start playing in a more structured way, like in a school club or something?

KH: I started when I was 6.

Kelton's First Chess Tournament

SK: Do you remember your first tournament and what happened there? 

KH: Yeah, my first tournament was a local tournament and there were lots of people from a team I’m on right now called the Pawn Stormers. I went 3-2. I didn’t do that great, but I ended up meeting some people that would be on my team in the future.

Kelton's Chess Favorites 

SK: What's your favorite thing about playing chess?

KH: Probably just enjoying looking at the moves, considering where the pieces can move, and thinking about the positions. 

SK: What kinds of positions do you like to play?

KH: Tactical, usually.

SK: Who's your favorite chess player?

KH: There are a lot. Probably my first favorite is Mikhail Tal. He’s one of my favorites. So is Magnus Carlsen. 

SK: Have you ever looked at Mikhail Tal's book at all?

KH: No, I have not read his book, but I’ve watched lots of his games on YouTube. 

SK: Do you have a favorite YouTuber?

KH: Not to be biased, but myself! Check out my Chess YouTube Channel!

SK: Who's your second favorite YouTube chess person?

KH: The Chess Network, probably. Also Eric Rosen, because I've met him in real life. 

SK: Was he nice?

KH: Yeah.

Kelton's Best Chess Game in the State Tournament 

SK: What was your best game in the state tournament this year?

KH: Probably the last one.

SK: Was that the most challenging one, too?

KH: Yeah, I would say so, because if I didn't win it, there was a chance another person would win and if the other person won, we would go into a tie. It looked like a winning position for them, but then they lost, which I was pretty happy about, even though it was another person from Pawn Stormers.

Chess Coach Johan's Class

SK: What's your favorite thing that you've learned from Chess Coach Johan?

KH: Probably me liking the puzzles and tactical positions a lot. There are a lot of things he's done great.

SK: Do you want to pick one that you remember?

KH: Probably the tactical decisions, like in the warm ups. 

SK: What's your favorite chess book, if you have one?

KH: Probably "Forcing Chess Moves" or "Understanding Chess Move by Move."

Kelton's Non-Chess Hobbies and Interests 

SK: What do you like to do besides chess?

KH: I play basketball, and I played tackle football this year. I do a fair amount of basketball. I tried out for a team and made it this summer and winter, so it's a year round thing, basically. 

SK: What's your favorite non-chess book?

KH: I like books about basketball players like Steph Curry, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant, just to name a few. And I read "The Bad Guys." It's a pretty good series.

SK: Who's your favorite basketball player?

KH: Steph Curry. 

SK: And do you root for the Warriors, or do you have another team?

KH: I root for the Warriors and the Celtics. 

SK: What do you want to be when you grow up? 

KH: A chess player or a basketball player.