Twelve-year-old chess player to represent Canada on world stage

FREDERICTON – A 12-year-old from Fredericton will represent Canada at the world chess champions in Greece later this month.

Cynthia Cui is considered a Canadian prodigy.

“I don’t know where I got the talent really maybe it’s genes,” she said.

She said she learned all about the game of strategy and knowledge from her big brother, Leo, who’s almost as good as his baby sister.

“I like attacking and check mating her as quick as I can.”

Which he admits just doesn’t happen as much as it used to.

Leo taught Cynthia how to play back when she was only in grade two. He said she mastered the game almost immediately and won the provincial championships a year later.

Now, she’ll be playing on the world stage in her age category.

“Going to the worlds and coming from a small city where there is not much chess in the first place I am very proud of her,” he said.

“I have a really good brother and he’s a really helpful person and he’s preparing me for the worlds,” she said.

After all, there’s nothing better than a little sibling rivalry to get the competitive juices flowing, according to their coach Robert Hamilton.

“I think the fact that they are rivaling helps them grow together,” he said. “Leo is an attacker she is a defender and she likes to win by letting other people commit suicide. And Leo likes to win by killing them so their styles are completely different.”

Cynthia may not have killer instincts like her big brother, but Hamilton says she has undeniable focus. She is a defensive player and carefully analyzes every move.

“He just tries to beat me but it doesn’t really happen,” she said. “I think I can get them by surprise because they don’t know who I am and they don’t know any of my game so they can’t study it. So I think I have a relatively good chance of getting into the top ten maybe.”