Natalie Wisniowski will soon be able to put a few letters in front of her name thanks to her bronze medal performance at the North American Youth Chess Championship (NAYCC) held in Windsor, Canada, August 7-11.

The Chicagoan earned the title "Women's Candidate Master" (WCM) finishing in clear third in the Under 10 group, with 6.5, a half-point behind the two section leaders. With five wins and three draws in nine rounds, Natalie's only loss came to champion Atmika Gorti in the seventh round.

Natalie's father, Pawel, told the ICA, this was one of the happiest moments of his life, "the only time when I was happier was when my daughters were born!" 

"I can say that I am the proud daddy of (Illinois') newest Women's Candidate Master!"

Pawel was kind enough to respond to some questions from the ICA.

What is the NAYCC?

The North American Youth Chess Championship is the continental championship tournament for Canada, USA, and Mexico. Usually, each year the tournament is in different country, I believe last year was in Mexico, two years ago in USA, and three years ago in Canada. This year the tournament was again in Canada in the city of Windsor.

http://windsorchess.org/naycc.php

Other section winnder (U18 and U16) earned International Master and Women's International Master titles. U14 and U12 winners will be awarded FIDE Master and Women's FIDE Master titles.

According to Pawel, "The direct titles are awarded by FIDE QC usually a few months after the tournament, I believe during the FIDE quarterly meeting."

"In Natalie's case, she was able to win first three games, then she had two draws and another win, so she was always within the top three places."

Did Natalie share her thoughts along the way?

"The emotions were very high because with each game she was closer to achieving her goal (of medaling and earning a title)."

"Before the last round she knew that she could not afford to lose so she told me that she was trying not to obsess about how close she was to her goal."  

"She tried to focus only on the best moves during the game" but later admitted she was "almost shaking inside".

How did your daughter prepare for the event?

Before the tournament she was studying chess on average three to four hours each day in order to prepare for the tournament. She could do it because she still had the vacation from school (during the school year it is more difficult to spend so much time studying and playing chess).

Did she make any new friends from the tournament?

"She met new friends from California. There were other Americans as well but we do not recall anyone from the state of Illinois."

What will be your own lasting memories from the event?

"When she finished the last game she came to me walking slowly and said "Daddy, I am now a Woman Candidate Master."

"She was not jumping (as she usually does when she is happy)  because she was exhausted.  But still she was extremely happy.

[Editor's Note: In the final round, Natalie drew Isamel Shen, who finished in a three-way tie for fourth place with 5.5/9. If Isamel had won, the two would have both finished with 6.0's and Natalie might have finished with a lower tiebreak to place fourth.]

"I will remember for the rest of my life when I saw her walking towards me after the last game with that little smile on her face."

"I was close to (having a) heart attack because of waiting (parents were not allowed in the playing area so I had to wait long hours on the hallway) but when I saw her smile I knew that something beautiful had happened."