Adult Improver Pod: Nicholas Sloan - A 400+ Rating Rise in 2 Years (& Chasing the NM Title)

114 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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