15-year-old Hays native earns prestigious National Master chess title

National Chess Master Sheena Zeng, 15, of Hays studies a chess board at her home.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Fifteen-year-old Sheena Zeng of Hays recently achieved a new accolade in a long list of awards for the chess prodigy — her National Master title with the U.S. Chess Federation.

Zeng is only the fourth Kansas native to earn the title and the first female Kansas native to earn the honor — a title that Zeng will hold for life.

She earned the honor after being invited to the Denker Tournament of High School Champions from Aug. 3 to 6 in Orlando, Fla., a tournament she was originally not slated to play.

Zeng had plateaued in her rankings and said she was struggling with her chess during the first six months of this year. Her coach since she was 10 died suddenly in February. Her mother, Michelle, said Zeng had spent hours via Skype training with chess Grand Master Predrag Trajkovic of Serbia. The two worked on Zeng’s chess two or three times a week and then daily closer to tournaments.

She was scheduled to play in a series of tournaments this summer, so Sheena said she really buckled down and concentrated on memorizing her openings (the first 10 to 20 moves of the game, which most chess masters memorize).

“I stopped playing with fear,” she said. “I was playing really passively.”

Zeng played in the Washington International Tournament where she tied for second and earned a $900 prize. She attended an invitation-only chess camp in New York, and she also played in the World Open and the Manhattan Open.

She placed fourth in her state tournament, which meant that she did not qualify for the Denker tournament. However, the first-place state qualifier was unable to attend the tournament at the last minute and the second- and third-place finishers declined the invitation.

Zeng had planned to play in an open tournament that was being conducted in conjunction with the Denker Tournament, so she and her family already had tickets and hotel reservations in Orlando, so Zeng was able to accept the invitation to play.

Zeng went undefeated in the tournament, wining two and drawing four games, one of which was to the highest ranking player in the field. She was awarded the Ursula Foster Award, given to top finisher younger than 16.

She attributed her success to her former mentor, Trajkovic. Her mother said Trajkovic had always dreamed of Sheena achieving her National Master title, but he sadly didn’t live to see his prodigy earn that honor. Sheena, a tough young women, did not cry when she spoke of her coach, but her eyes told that she was still grieving her mentor.

Zeng has tried to encourage younger players. She started a chess club at her former elementary school — O’Loughlin.

“I hope I am a good role model, but I don’t think anyone has taken up chess professionally because of my influence, although I hope that would happen some day. I feel there is a lot for me still to accomplish to become a better role model. I will try to work hard for that,” she said.

Zeng is not just exceptional as a chess player. She is also a budding scholar in the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science at Fort Hays State University.

KAMS generally admits students who are entering their junior years of high school. During their two-year residence at FHSU, KAMS students earn their high school diplomas and up to 68 hours of college credit. Having completed her sophomore year at Thomas More Prep-Marian, Zeng was admitted to KAMS last fall at age 14.

She is enjoying the more challenging classes, but said it was a bit shocking to go from high school to college. She said she really struggled with time management but is hoping to be on a better track this semester.

Zeng is at least a half decade younger than most of the other students in her classes, but she said most of the students don’t know her age. They think she’s just another college student.

She has contemplated several career paths, including becoming a doctor or biochemist. However, after a semester studying chemistry, Zeng said she is now leaning toward a degree in mathematics. She plans on doing a research project in mathematics this coming school year at KAMS.

“I wouldn’t say that I like math that much, but it is something that I am kind of OK at, so I am hoping the research will go well,” she said.

Her parents Hong Biao and Michelle Zeng, who both teach math at FHSU, suggested math would give her more time to concentrate on her chess.

Sheena still has lofty goals for herself in chess with hopes of eventually becoming a Women’s Grand Master or an International Master.

However, she wants other girls who might be interested in chess or math to know she is not locked in her room studying all of the time.

She schedules her classes early, so she can spend time reading and enjoying time with her friends.

And even though she is required to live on campus as part of the KAMS program, she often walks home to visit her parents who live just off campus. She’s still pretty dependent on Mom and Dad.

Sheena said she is very grateful to her parents for giving her the opportunity to pursue her chess.

“It is definitely a big privilege for me,” she said of her parents help with her chess.

Zeng plans to take a gap year after she finishes the KAMS program in the spring. She said she just didn’t feel she was mature enough to head off to college on her own. During her gap year, she plans to continue to work toward her chess goals.