Breaking Barriers: May Li's Journey in May the Best Player Win

In the world of competitive chess, gender disparity has been a long-standing issue. While there are many female chess icons like GM Judit Polgár, girls in chess still face unique challenges in male-dominated environments. Kyla Zhao’s May the Best Player Win brings this struggle to life through the lens of May Li, a young girl making her mark at the California Middle School State Chess Championship.

May’s Tactical Journey and Overcoming Challenges

At its heart, May the Best Player Win is more than just a story about chess—it’s about courage, persistence, and challenging societal norms. As May navigates the highs and lows of tournament play, her story mirrors the experience of many young girls who enter traditionally male spaces and strive to prove their worth.

One standout moment in the book is when May refuses a draw against a top-seeded opponent. The intensity of the game is palpable as she works through her plan to trap her opponent’s queen, only for him to play a zwischenzug, derailing her strategy. This concept, the surprise intermediate move, is not just a tactical element but a metaphor for the unexpected challenges in May’s journey.

Chess players, especially those who compete in tournaments, can relate to the mental resilience May displays. The careful balance between strategic foresight and adaptability is what makes chess a rich and complex game. Zhao skillfully weaves these tactical ideas into the story, using concepts like gambits, pins, and evaluations to reflect May’s internal and external battles.

Why Kyla Zhao Wrote the Book

Kyla Zhao’s connection to chess runs deep. "I’ve been playing chess since I was six, competing in tournaments throughout my primary and secondary school years. I even made it onto Singapore’s national junior team!" Zhao recalls. But over time, she noticed fewer girls sticking with the game and experienced negative comments about female players, which made her feel out of place. "I started to doubt if chess was really a place for girls like me. So after secondary school, I made the decision to stop playing chess altogether."

Years later, during the pandemic, Zhao rediscovered her love for chess. "It got me thinking back to my old days on the chessboard. I wondered, 'What if I had kept playing? How far could I have gone?' And then, the bigger question: 'Why didn’t I want to keep playing in the first place?'" Those reflections inspired May the Best Player Win. Writing the book, she explains, was a therapeutic process:

Through my character’s story, I rediscovered the magic of chess and remembered why I loved it so much. It’s the kind of book I wish I had when I was younger.

Zhao’s personal journey and the book’s themes of gender stereotypes and performance anxiety resonate beyond the world of chess, making May the Best Player Win relatable even to those unfamiliar with the game.

About the Author

Kyla Zhao, the author of May the Best Player Win, is a Silicon Valley tech professional by day and an author by night. After graduating from Stanford University, she has dedicated much of her writing to exploring themes of gender equality, especially in traditionally male-dominated fields like chess. Zhao’s novels have been featured by major media outlets such as CBS, NBC, Good Morning America, Vogue, and Buzzfeed. She was also honored as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the California State Assembly. Her passion for breaking gender stereotypes is evident in her work, as she consistently writes stories that empower young women to excel in spaces where they are often underrepresented.

Inspiration for All Players

What makes May’s story truly inspiring is how she confronts the biases she faces as a girl in chess. At one point, a teammate dismisses her victory, claiming she only received recognition because she’s female. Instead of letting this undermine her confidence, May decides to prove her skill and earn the respect she deserves. She embodies a spirit of determination and resilience that can inspire young players everywhere.

May the Best Player Win serves as a reminder that chess is not just about winning or losing but about growth, learning, and self-discovery. It encourages young players—especially girls—not to shy away from challenges and to embrace the complexity of the game. In chess, just like in life, the best player isn’t always the one who never fails but the one who learns from every move and keeps going.

As we follow May’s journey, we are reminded that breaking barriers in chess is as much about personal growth as it is about technical skill. Whether you’re new to chess or a seasoned player, May’s story is a reminder that the next move is always yours to make.