OT
As a teenager I played competition chess. (chess for blood). Actually ruined the game for me.... competition chess is all about winning... there is beauty in the game, I loved it for that.... and also, it is a game where all the moves are on the board for everyone to see and there is many ways to play... you got to see how another person thought (which was both instructive and fascinating).
At 17 I was living chess, all day every day, only sleeping when I had to. Was forced to make a decision... play chess or eat. The Netflix series The Queens Gambit is a good insight into life as a chess person.
