WIM Battsetseg Tsagaan

Battsetseg Tsagaan has the dream of many elite chess players: She wants to become a grandmaster. In pursuit of that, she has racked up an impressive string of tournament successes that have made her a household name in her native Mongolia.

But it’s not so easy these days. She’s kept busy as a wife and mother to two children. She says balancing chess with the rest of her life is the most difficult challenge she faces.

“I have spent more and more time away from the board. Between work and family, it is tough to practice and play and play in chess tournaments,” she says.

Chess runs in Tsagaan’s blood. A player since she was 4, she says her biggest influence in chess is her father. She counts her second place finish in the 1992 World Collegiate Championship as the accomplishment that means the most to her.

To understand her passion for the game, check out J.C. Hallman’s, “The Chess Artist: Genius, Obsession, and the World's Oldest Game.” Chapter 11 is entitled, “The Queen of Mongolia.” Yes, the chapter title refers to Battsetseg. It’s a fascinating read.