Elo 1800
I finally crossed 1800 on Chess.com. It took 17 months to gain 100 points. It felt endless.
A few times, I was one game away from reaching 1800. Each time, I collapsed into a losing streak and dropped back to the low 1700s. Few things I do for fun frustrate me as much as chess.
Growth never happens in a straight line. Improvement often looks like regression. Even when I'm going backward, I'm still improving. That lesson carries into work and life.
When working out on the Peloton, I often watch 2000-rated players on YouTube. They're only 200 Elo points higher, but the gap feels massive. Skill doesn't scale linearly.
My game has certainly improved. I see weaknesses faster now, which helps me form better middle game plans. For better or worse, I still rely on a few familiar openings, but they usually get me to a playable position.
Still, 17 months for 100 points feels slow. Should I aim for 2000? Part of me wants the challenge. Another part questions the tradeoff, or whether I'll get there at all. I've not decided yet. For now, I am proud of reaching 1800.
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