♟️ Back to the Chessboard: One Move at a Time
A stroke survivor's journey back to competitive chess, confidence, and courage.
After nearly two years away from competitive, face-to-face chess, I am finally finding my way back to the board.
My stroke changed many things.
It left me partially disabled and forced me to confront challenges I never expected to face—not only physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. There were days when simply regaining confidence felt harder than solving the most complicated chess position.
"Recovery, like chess, is about patience."
You study the position. You accept that some moves cannot be undone. You adapt. You look for possibilities. And when the time is right, you make your next move.
After a long hiatus, I have finally regained the courage to play chess face-to-face again.
More Than Just a Game
For me, this is more than simply returning to a game.
Chess challenges my mind, sharpens my focus, strengthens my concentration, and gives me something deeply important: the feeling that I am still capable of thinking, competing, fighting, and moving forward.
Every game is now part of my recovery.
Every move reminds me that the mind can continue to grow even when the body is still healing.
♟️ I AM STILL HERE.
Malaysia Can Wait
I was actually considering playing in Malaysia. The opportunity was tempting, and the chess player in me wanted to go immediately.
But I also had to be honest with myself.
At this stage of my recovery, I worried that I might become too dependent on others during the trip. So, I made a difficult—but wise—decision.
NOT YET.
Malaysia can wait.
The chessboard will still be there.
And hopefully, next year, I will be stronger, more independent, and better prepared—not only to travel, but to compete.
Recovery Is Not a Race
There is no shame in waiting.
Recovery is not a race.
Sometimes the bravest move is not to rush forward, but to prepare carefully for the next opportunity.
For now, I am grateful.
- Grateful that I can sit across from an opponent again.
- Grateful that I can think, calculate, plan, attack, and defend.
- Grateful that I can once again enjoy the beautiful struggle that only a game of chess can bring.
A New Version of Myself
I may no longer be the same player—or even the same person—I was before my stroke.
But perhaps that is the point.
I am learning to become a new version of myself.
More patient.
More grateful.
More resilient.
And still ready to fight.
In chess, even when you lose material, the game is not always over.
As long as there is a move to make, there is still hope.
♟️ One Move at a Time.
One Game at a Time.
One Day at a Time.
THE COMEBACK CONTINUES.
— Joselito Bandelaria Asi
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