About Me:
I started playing chess around age 8. I quickly grew into a seasoned tournament player, training and playing every week, and traveling to tournaments around the US as well as internationally. However, due to a negative relationship with my chess environment, I got burned out and quit the game in 2019. As luck would have it, I decided to start streaming chess as a way to occupy my time during the pandemic. Playing casually online and connecting with some great people helped rekindle my love for the game. As a result, I've gotten back into teaching and studying in addition to streaming, and I plan to return to tournament play once the pandemic is over. I love helping others through teaching, and one of my greatest joys is seeing people learn, enjoy, and improve at the game to reach their goals.
I am now 22 years old and am an active chess streamer on Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/SimplyDevina) where I have been streaming for two years and earned Twitch Partner in April 2022. I generally stream casual content from playing viewers, running arenas, and tactics to collaborations with other streamers and hosting matches. I also run charity streams from time to time with the goal to raise money for different organizations. My goal from the beginning was to build up a community and use my platform for the better and I’m working towards my goals of remaining authentic, a friend for others and making a positive impact in the chess community.
Outside of work, some of my hobbies are playing sports, writing and music. Growing up, I played multiple sports, mainly soccer and taekwondo, and played the piano competitively until I was 18 and have carried those interests with me until today. One of my passions is mental health. I enjoy reading and writing about topics in mental health, and began my podcast ‘Honest Vibes Only’ to talk about my story in and tying it to various topics about mental health and experiences through navigating adulthood. If you’d like to give it a listen, you can find my podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and you can read a summary of my story on GoFundMe.
Coaching Methodology:
I have been teaching private lessons for more than 3 years now and have experience teaching all ages and all beginner-intermediate levels. When it comes to teaching, I like to adapt to each student’s needs while still improving each part of their game. Depending what gaps each student needs help improving on or what topics they request I specifically help them with, I do a good job at focusing more time in those areas. I have a patient and understanding approach to my teaching style and I am able to explain my points clearly.
Highlights of my career:
Earned the Woman FIDE Master Title in 2014
North American Youth Chess Championships U14 Girls: 1st place
Texas Grade & Collegiate: Tied for 1st 9th-10th grade
Texas Women's Championships: 1st Place
US Junior Open: Tied for 3rd U21
Representative for World Youth Chess Championships: 2010 & 2011
