2025 in Review
- Dec 23, 2025
- 7 min read
Howdy! It's the Chess Friends!
In this blog post, we want to reflect on the year of 2025. What a whirlwind of a year we had! So much growth and learning have happened. We grew. Our hair grew. Our blog grew, and so did our friendship. Our chess skills expanded, and writing brought an extra dimension into our lives.
We’ve changed, yet we’ve stayed the same. We are still your trustworthy chess friends, who, next year, will keep bringing fun and chessy blog posts filled with positive energy and cheesy knee-slappers!
For now, let’s take a tour into the year 2025, Chess Friends’ edition! Here are some of our highlights:
Posting our first blog (Why did we write this book?) on March 7, 2025
Getting our first blog over 400 views (Our Darkest Chess Hours) in August 2025
Published our book, Q&A Chess Tournament Edition on September 15, 2025
Started posting regular monthly articles on the Northwest Chess Magazine in September 2025
Getting to over 30 countries to look at our website and blogs sometime in November 2025
Spreading the word about our book & blog across the US (and even Vancouver, BC, Canada), and having a book launch event at a local bookstore, Third Place Books
Writing themed articles about fun openings: Chess Zoo, Part I, Danube Chess, Chess Zoo, Part II
Going to many tournaments all together, including the US Open, to market our book & blog
Here are personal reflections from each of us on the year that's been:
The Man Benji
Ah, what a ride 2025 has been! I vividly remember how in the beginning of the year, we finished our rough draft. Then, together, we made a website to run weekly blogs, and eventually, we got to publish the book! Along the way, individually, we continued learning chess & more!
Reading has always been a big part of my life, but this year, I took it to the next level. Normally, I would read for enjoyment, to relax and travel into a new world. Because of our blog, I started reading chess-themed books with the goal of writing reviews. I learned how to compose an interesting book review without spoiling the plot while using the book’s theme to make it more catchy. Like in my review of Not an Easy Win by Chrystal D. Gyles in the blog Chess Middle Grade Novels Part I, I made my words rhyme (or at least tried to!) because the main character liked to play chess with a beat. That was fun to write!
My favorite chess novel to read was Check Mates by Stewart Foster, reviewed in our HD Chess blog. Interesting characters, a good plot, chess tournaments, and a historical twist—this book had it all. Give me a choice between historical fiction and fantasy, I would pick historical. That’s the kind of man I am!
Fun fact: according to our website analytics, AI bots “crawled” into our book review blogs the most. Who knew AI liked book reviews? I hope our blogs inspire people to read and enjoy those books! In 2026, more book reviews are coming! Humans and bots, stay tuned!
Another big chess highlight was my online play. I’ve set a new personal record, 1000 games, doubling my 4-year stats in just one year! Over the weekends, instead of chess tournaments, I had many volleyball tournaments where I grew my skills and teamwork, so online chess became an important way for me to stay connected to the game.
I still prefer over-the-board chess games! Most of the chess tournaments I played in 2025 were local, but we did travel together to the 2025 US Open in Middleton, WI. This 9-round tournament was fun, but also intense and required lots of focus and perseverance. You can read a recap of our trip here in our summer blog.
My other trip was a 4-hour drive to Portland, Oregon, to play in the 2025 Oregon Open. This was the first time I played in the highest section, among expert-level competition. It was tough but it showed me that with a bit more work, a bit more confidence, I can become an expert myself. Will it be next year? Stay tuned to find out!
The Myth Sarang
This year in chess, I went from 1400 to 1600 USCF and noticed that my thinking changed because I started calculating longer, taking more time, and taking deep breaths to calm myself down and slow down instead of playing super fast. As they say, “If you move before you think, then your move is going to stink!” I also started playing more positionally instead of playing in a hyperaggressive way, because I don’t want to risk anything. I improved my openings and endgames a lot, and also practiced taking my time, of course. Yoga played a big part in this also, because it immensely helped my focus and calm.
I also grew as a person and faced some of my fears head on. I can now navigate downtown cities, airports, and pretty much anywhere by myself, make my own breakfast, use knives, pans, and pots on high heat levels (some things I am very good at cooking at include grilled veggies, homemade pasta sauces, etc. all with the goal of making people eat happy), empty the dishwasher and dishrack and load the dishes in the dishwasher, etc. In 2025, I started some new activities, including playing guitar, joining another choir, and of course working on blogs and the book with The Chess Friends! I also leveled up multiple times in tennis. Overall, 2025 was a year that taught me growth takes time, honest reflection, and a mindset of “What can I learn from this?” instead of “Did I win or lose?” Excited for the big 2026!
The Legend Vivaan
I started the year 2025 barely over 1000 rated USCF. I end the year over 1400, and I even briefly crossed 1500! I also earned my Arena FIDE Master (AFM) title by playing strong blitz chess in the FIDE Online Arena. I won my section in the WA State Championship (adult event) and donated my prize money to support my buddy Atlas, battling chronic pancreatitis via Mission Cure.
My public speaking has improved a ton thanks to my work with The Chess Friends and I've also become a much better teacher and coach. I ended up on the TV news twice this year, once on CBS for helping Atlas and once on NBC supporting Grade Level Nationals in Spokane, WA. I'm also proud to help coach the King's Knights Chess Team! Overall, 2025 was a great year and I'm excited for 2026! I'm going to be 8!
Peshka the Pawn
(impersonated by Benji's mom Sasha)
Eight years, eh? That’s old, Vivi! I am turning 1! One year old! I was born in January 2025, and, since then, I’ve changed and became good looking, thank you very much. Just look at the difference:
Oh, and now I’ve got colors!
Not bad, right? Looks aside, I had the most fun sharing my advice in the Q&A Chess book. Not gonna lie, when the book was out, I was a bit concerned that I couldn’t impart my Peshka wisdom anymore, but thanks to the blog and the Northwest Chess magazine, I am back in business. Speaking of the blog, my most favorite post is Chess and Music. Why? Because I got to play the piano and sing!
After we published this post, the Chess Friends and I had lots of fun singing this song in different musical genres. Country-style performed by Vivi is the winner. Ask Vivi to sing it next time you see him! I also like this post because Sarang is so excited about music, it makes me excited! And because of this blog, Benji got to share chess with his piano teacher. It warms my heart to see people connected over chess. If chess were like Christmas, I bet the Grinch’s heart would also grow three sizes!
As for the next year, I am excited to meet more animals on the chess board and maybe travel some... Who knows where the chess inspiration will take us? A presto!
We decided to each rank our top five favorite blogs from the year! We also brought in a guest ranker Siva (Sarang and Vivaan's Dad).
The Man Benji’s top 5 favorite blogs:
3. Danube Chess
The Myth Sarang’s top 5 favorite blogs:
2. HD Chess
The Legend Vivi's top 5 favorite blogs:
Siva's top 5 favorite blogs:
Look how we grew together!
It wouldn't be a 2025 recap without some knee slappers, best of 2025!
Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Alaska!
Alaska who?
Alaska TD!
***
What does the baby chess engine say when it’s sleepy?
It’s time for an App!
***
Why did the chess club meet at the gym?
To do some rook lifts!
***
No, seriously, why did they meet at the gym?
Because the library was all booked!
***
So, why didn’t they meet at the cafeteria then?
Because in the cafeteria, the chess clocks keep going back four seconds!
***
Have you seen that game The Legend Vivi won with the Cow opening?
It was legend-dairy!
***
Why was it legendary?
Because the game had 5 brilliant mooooves!
***
Why did the musician blunder a rook?
Because he got into time treble!
***
Why did the river sign up for a chess tournament?
Pier pressure.
***
My mom says we should never play chess when it's foggy.
Because we can mist a tactic!
***
In Q&A Chess, have you seen Peshka with a ring posing as Gollum from Lord of the Rings?
Yeah, I know what you're Tolkien about!
***
What music does the Hippo play on his chess stream?
Hippo-hop!
***
What do the Chess Friends say when they want to get a new car?
Audi! It’s the Chess Friends!
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Why does Benji keep his volleyball knee-pads on when working on a chess blog?
Because of all those knee-slappers!
***
Why did the duck win its chess game?
It found a really good quacktic!
***
What is Earth without art in it?
Eh!
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Why did the Chess & Music blog post disappear from our website?
It went Christmas Chopin!
***
I was dominating my game until move 67.
Then my arms started waving, and I knocked over my king!
***
What did Santa say after a long night of delivering presents?
Happy Christmas to all and to all a good knight! And a good bishop!
***
Three Cheers, Fellow Future Master Chess Friends, and a Happy New Year!
The Man Benji, The Myth Sarang, The Legend Vivi
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