My Game Chess!

Summary
Plot Overview

Twenty years before the events of the focus of the series, grandmaster Hisato Nayuki played a game of chess against his bitter rival, Saito Harizaki. It was a game that would change the world forever. It raised many questions and concerns about what it means to "play" chess and the significance of each piece. The game was an upset as Hisato discovered Saito cheating, stealing his reputation as the world's greatest chess player, and ruining the latter's reputation and career as a chess player. After the match, both players went into hiding -- never to be seen again by the public eye.

In the present, the effects of these two master's Earth-shattering game can still be felt. This story, however, is not about Hisato, but about his grandson who, upon discovering his grandfather's legacy, became inspired to become the next best chess player, and in turn, overcome his own tribulations. That child's name was Kaido Nokaidan.

The story begins on a brutally hot summer day in 2001. School has just recently ended for summer vacation and Kaido has finished the ninth grade. Kaido "Kai" and his best friend Sora are heading back to Kai's house to play Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. However, the blistering heat causes a power outage and the two boys are left with nothing to entertain them. Kai's grandfather finds them bored and suggests they play chess to pass the time, as that is what he and his friends did before the days of electronics and videogames. The two boys bemoan the concept, shirk off the old man's remarks, and claim that chess is "boring."

He sets a challenge for the two boys: whoever can beat him in a game of chess can have Hisato's 1970s Challenger. Thinking the car will make the boys more popular in school, they begin playing chess against each other, and against Hisato. Kai, however, aims to win the car to impress his crush, Himari. They lose every game and feel disheartened.

The power eventually returns and Sora heads home to eat dinner with his family, leaving Kai to play chess against his grandfather. After Sora leaves, Kai questions Hisato about his immense chess skill, to which the old man replies “Oh, it’s nothing.”

Kai continues to play chess against his grandfather throughout the summer in hopes of winning the Challenger for when school returns, but he is not progressing. On one such occasion, Kai asks his grandfather for tips on progressing his skills, to which Hisato responds: “You’ll never be able to hone your chess skills until you find a better motive.” Kai is unsure what this means.

Kai and Sora practice each day, learning more about the game as they play. However, mid-July, Sora announces that he will not be going to the same school in September. And so, distraught, Kai becomes disinterested in winning the car, and by extension, playing chess.

Without his best friend, Kai sinks into a depression. It is now late August and Kai has lost hope in winning the car to drive to school, until he is made aware of a local tournament with a $2000 cash prize. Kai joins the tournament, only to realize the tremendous gap in strength between himself and the participants.

Here, he meets Takeo