I started playing chess in 1986, when I was 7 years old. (My brother was my first teacher, sometimes with invented rules. ;-)) Although my intense passion for this highly challenging mind-sports shifted to other interests in my late teenage years, I’ve always remained very fond of it. As I strongly believe in the benefits of learning chess for kids, I sometimes teach chess to kids in schools, or assist as an umpire in youth chess tournaments.
I am playing in the oldest still-active Austrian chess club, the “Schachgesellschaft Graz” founded in 1877. We are actually one of the oldest still-active chess clubs in the world! Our players range from young kids to seniors, and we define ourselves by our fighting spirit and sense of humour. We also provide weekly chess training sessions for kids. And beware! – we are growing stronger each day. :-)
My current(*) Elo-rating for classical chess is 1905 (international) and 1913 (national). My personal best in classical chess was 2012 (national) sometime in the 2000s (alas, not in the year 2012, which would have been epic!).
(*) last updated: 12/2025