114 Adult Improver Pod: Nicholas Sloan - A 400+ Rating Rise in 2 Years (& Chasing the NM Title)
Jan 28, 2025
Leaping 400 rating points in classical, rated chess as an adult in just two years?
That requires a huge effort and rare dedication...
Two qualities that describe well this week’s guest, fellow adult club player, Nicholas Sloan.
Specifically, in a relatively brief period, Nick went from 1400 USCF to 1849 USCF.
And it’s all part of his plan to earn the National Master title - something that he wants to prove is possible for us adults.
But exciting progress doesn’t come easy…
Nick advocates consistency, discipline, and a willingness to face your chess weakness.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The top 3 reasons Nick was able to make such massive and fast progress in his USCF rating.
- Why he doesn’t believe “one size fits all” training programs are that effective.
- Why he has preferred self-guided learning to studying under a coach.
More From Nick:
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