Jamie-Nicole juggled chess prep with dance rehearsals for a major competition happening just days after the tournament. Talk about multitasking under pressure!
She fought through tough rounds, time trouble, and nerves, but never gave up.
In her own words: – Going into the NNCC 2025 tournament was a bit stressful and overwhelming as I had to juggle my chess preparation and dance practice. I had a big dance competition the weekend after the Nationals, which added to my pressure.
Fortunately, the first two rounds were against junior players, allowing me to gradually ease into the tournament while focusing on dance practice. I didn’t take these rounds lightly, playing carefully to secure wins, knowing that anything can happen on the chessboard.
From the third round onwards, the competition intensified, and each match was a challenge.
Round 8 was the championship round, and I desperately wanted to win. At one point, I thought the game was over, but I continued fighting.
In the endgame, I realized victory was within reach, although I was still under pressure due to time trouble. After my opponent resigned and I secured the win, I was alone in the playing venue, and I let out a sigh of relief, smiling as the stress and anxiety melted away. I was elated.
My last round was another big challenge against a strong player, and I aimed to finish with a perfect score. However, with the tournament already in the bag, the pressure was off. The game was long, but fortunately, I emerged victorious. The tournament was tough, but the end result was incredibly rewarding.
And how did she do at the dance competition. Of course she won that to.
