WGM Camilla Baginskaite

In a tournament dominated by players in their late teens and early 20s, Camilla Baginskaite stands out. She is 42, making her five years older than anyone else in the field. She says there’s a “very simple” explanation for the relatively few peers her age in the top ranks: “They don’t have time for that.” She calls her own time for practice “uneven,” adding, “Sometimes I don’t practice at all.” The rigors of chess also can take a toll on more seasoned players. “Chess is more sporty than people realize,” she says. “It requires a lot of energy.”

These days, Camilla’s energies go largely toward her family. She is married to grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky, and has two children. Camilla has a master’s degree in art history and is studying to become an art teacher.

She is blunt when asked how she balances chess and the rest of her life: “There is no such thing as a good balance. You either do chess professionally or not.” But Camilla quickly adds that she’s not giving up on winning another championship, and vows to become a more aggressive player. Camilla is not about to let age get in the way of continuing to be a top player. She’s hopeful that 10 to 15 years from now, her name will still be on the list of U.S. Women’s Chess Championship invitees. “When the kids are out of the house,” Camilla figures, she will have more time to devote to chess.