Sabina Foisor, a Lubbock resident, won the title of U.S. Women’s Chess Champion at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis on April 10.
After six years of attempts, Foisor won the title and a grand prize of $25,000. The title meant more because her mother passed earlier this year.
“My mom and I were really close so she has been a great inspiration for me. I never thought I would want it this much as I want it now because I lost her earlier this year and it’s been a really difficult time. Knowing she would have wanted me to do this, I just tried to do my best for her,” Foisor said.
Foisor moved here from Romania after receiving a scholarship for chess to attend the University of Maryland.
“Chess has taught me to that sometimes in life we have to make decisions that aren’t necessarily best based on a plan,”Foisor stated.
She added that she wants to use the prize money to build a memorial in honor of her mom back in her hometown of Romania.