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 these 7 themes:

Play longer time controls 

Developing calculating skills 

Decision journal 

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- 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 favorites 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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