Prologue | The Prodigy

"It is the final match of the Grand Chess Tournament! We're at California bringing you live the the most awaited match of the year!"

It was the year 1997, even though I lived in the UK. My father brought me to California with him just so he could show me the match.

I was very young, people often think I was crazy when I would speak things that weren't commonly heard from kids of my age.

Even so, my view of the world was pretty much more than just happiness and toys. I don't watch children's television show, rather it was the daily news playing on the television. I didn't have much friends, I'd rather not waste time socializing with people. Most of the days, I was inside our library at home, learning.

"Father, please hurry. The match will soon begin."

I exited the limousine before my father did and as I was excited to see how the match would unfold, I couldn't help but force my father to quickly dismount the vehicle.

My father exited the car slowly, not what I was expecting, fraily he moved his feet from the car's floor mats towards the road - facing the building in front that was the venue.

My father was the one who influenced me in the art of chess, for he was -

"He has entered the building! It's the legendary Philip Polcoth!"

My father was the named the greatest chess player of his generation and throughout his career, he had never been defeated, even once. That day, he was about to face against the greatest of that time - Wu Fan, The Chess Tiger of the East and like my father, he was undefeated.

One way or another, the battle would definitely end in a total disappointment for the loser. As disappointing as the battle ended, my father lost to that match, staining his records forever. After that match, my father finally retired from the league and started to focus his time on teaching me chess, saying there was no need for him to work because we had enough cash and that was nevertheless true.

Dissapointing was what I thought after he lost, what was on my mind was that he would be mad as the consequences of that event, what I saw was his face - smiling while we were on our way back to the airport.

"Finally, after all these years - someone had beaten me," were the words that came out of his mouth that even surprised me. Even though, if that was what my father had wanted to happen, then I couldn't do anything about that. Eitherway, I felt ignorant at that moment, I had the mind of a grown-up yet I know that I was in a small vessel.

I had to wait and finally it came, the day that I was waiting for - my first chess tournament. I had to wait for my time just like Alexander of Macedon did, whom I was named after. He took to the throne right after his father was assassinated and once my father retired from his career, I knew it was my time to shine just as Alexander once did.

"First match of the tournament - Alexander Polcoth of Lancashire against..."

With a decisive move, I ended the first match very easily and moved on to the next match. Checkmate after checkmate, I couldn't help but feel glorious after each victory.

I won the tournament, and so did a few more, even an international one. As I pursued my dreams, I got older - my body finally had caught up with my mind and at that point, I felt fulfilled.

Once I defeat the Japanese Champion - Aoi Gonzou, I will retire from the league and unlike my father before me, I won't have a single defeat in my record at just 18 years of age.

Hence I'll be considered the greatest chess master...