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Chess Loss Sparks Reflection on Life's Tough Choices

12/20/2025

50 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

On a November afternoon in Goa, Indian grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi lost to Chinese player Wei Yi.
The author recalls learning chess in childhood from their uncle, Periappa.
They drifted away from the game and returned after Periappa's death spurred grief, and they view zugzwang as a metaphor for their relationship with Periappa.
Zugzwang serves as a metaphor for life's difficult choices.

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Story summary

On a November afternoon in Goa, Indian grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi lost to Chinese player Wei Yi.
The author recalls learning chess in childhood from their uncle, Periappa.
They drifted away from the game and returned after Periappa's death spurred grief, and they view zugzwang as a metaphor for their relationship with Periappa.
Zugzwang serves as a metaphor for life's difficult choices.