14 year old John Fox sits over his computer with his back hunched and sweat beading off of his forehead and fingertips. Fox is trying to figure out his last move. Fox is now competing in a regional ESports chess championship and is in the finals. As Fox was about to move his chess piece, he quickly stops and places it somewhere else then he was going to originally. This move is what caused Fox to win.

Fox first discovered chess during a summer camp in 2023 and ever since then, he has been passionate about continuing. 

“I went to this summer camp and saw a couple of my friends playing chess,” Fox said. “I decided to join in and I ended up enjoying it so much I decided to keep playing more and more throughout the summer.” 

Fox had become so good at playing chess during the summer camp that he only needed to devote around 15 hours into practicing before the tournament. With Fox’s friends, family, and coaches, Miraf and Assistant Principal Derek Douglas, he was able to win first place. 

During the first week of the 2024-2025 school year at the beginning of the year assembly, Fox was called down to receive his prize.

Fox is now a Freshman and plans on continuing esports all throughout highschool. Fox explains that he is passionate about his hobby and loves that it gives him something meaningful to do. 

“Push until the end and keep doing whatever it is you are passionate about,” Fox said. “You never know what will happen and you can surprise yourself and those around you.”

“John Fox is a great student,” Douglas said. 

“Considering how chess is one of the most complex games to play with its thousands of moves you could do, it is awesome to know we have someone here that could win across the whole entire region. I hope to see Fox continue throughout high school so maybe he could earn Stockbridge a spot in both esports and chess.”