TLDR: After losing half his brain to stop catastrophic seizures at age eight, Griffin McConnell used chess to relearn how to think, move, and speak—then became a National Master; his younger brother Sullivan rose through the same living-room rivalry, eventually topping Griffin’s rating and forcing their dad to ban home matches to keep the peace. Now both brothers, with 16 Colorado titles between them, are representing Team USA at the 2025 FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Kazakhstan, proving that the game they once fought over has become both their battlefield and their bond.
Picture a rivalry so intense that your parents have to ban you from playing a board game at home. Now imagine that same board game is the very thing that helps one of you relearn how to walk and talk after losing half his brain. Sounds like a movie script, right? For Griffin and Sullivan McConnell, it's just another Tuesday. Right now, these two brothers from Golden, Colorado are representing Team USA at the FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Astana, Kazakhstan. But the real story isn't just about the medals—it's about the messy, hilarious, and genuinely human details of what it takes to master a game against all odds.
Griffin's Unlikely Path to the Board
Griffin McConnell's story doesn't start at a chessboard. It starts at age five, with the onset of severe epileptic seizures. The journey led to four brain surgeries, culminating in a radical procedure at age eight called a hemispherotomy, which disconnected the entire left hemisphere of his brain to stop the seizures. The good news? It worked. The challenge? He had to relearn everything—from walking to talking—with limited function on the right side of his body.
In the middle of this grueling recovery, chess became more than a game. It was a cognitive lifeline, a structured way to rebuild pathways in his mind. While many kids were learning multiplication tables, Griffin was learning how to command an army of 16 pieces with, as he puts it, "half a brain." His determination wasn't just about recovery—it was about excellence. At 17, years after his final surgery, he earned the prestigious title of National Master from the US Chess Federation, requiring a rating of at least 2200. He's also a five-time Colorado State Champion and ranks 14th in the state.
The Sibling Rivalry That Built Champions
Just as Griffin was finding his footing, his younger brother Sullivan was right there, ready to challenge him. Sullivan picked up the game and quickly became a formidable opponent. Soon, he wasn't just Griffin's brother—he was his fiercest competition, eventually becoming a National Master himself and even surpassing Griffin's rating. Together, they've racked up 16 Colorado State Championship titles.
Their training sessions were the stuff of legend. With thousands of games played between them, the rivalry was fueled by a steady stream of trash talk. Griffin has joked about wanting to kick Sullivan under the table during matches. It got so heated that their father, Kevin, had to institute a house rule: no more chess games at home. The ban forced them out into the world of competitive tournaments to find opponents, sharpening their skills and turning a sibling squabble into a force on the national stage. It was never malicious—it was motivation wrapped in brotherly love and relentless competition.
Representing Team USA on the Global Stage
That shared drive propelled them all the way to Astana. As two-fifths of the five-member American team at the 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities, with Griffin serving as team captain, they're competing against players from 37 nations. The event, running from October 19-26, 2025, is a testament to the growing inclusivity of chess, featuring categories for players with physical, visual, hearing, and intellectual impairments.
This isn't a token appearance. Both brothers earned their spots through merit, holding US Chess Federation ratings over 2200. The tournament format—a six-round Swiss system with classical time controls of 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes plus 30 seconds per move—demands endurance and precision. It's held at the Paralympic Training Centre, a venue specifically designed for accessibility. Their presence moves the conversation beyond a simple recovery story and places them where they belong: among the best adaptive chess players in the world.
Quiet Innovations and the Bigger Picture in Adaptive Chess
The McConnell brothers' journey highlights a quieter revolution happening in the world of chess. It's not about flashy tech or viral moments, but about the steady, community-driven work of making the game accessible to everyone. FIDE launched its first Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in 2023, and the 2025 edition has expanded to include up to 35 teams with special awards like youngest and oldest player prizes. These aren't just symbolic gestures—they're structural changes that create pathways for players who've been historically excluded.
But the real work happens on the ground. The McConnells are a perfect example. Griffin and his father co-founded Chess Abilities, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to supporting disabled players. Both brothers coach at their father's PALS Chess Academy, and they're organizing events like the North American Chess Cup for Children with Disabilities. They aren't just beneficiaries of an inclusive system—they are actively building it. Their story challenges the superficial "overcoming adversity" narrative by showing that real progress is about creating communities, not just celebrating individuals.
The Checkmate That Keeps Going
So while the headlines might focus on "half a brain," the real story is about two brothers, a perfectly healthy rivalry, and a community that proves a classic game can be endlessly adaptive. The McConnell journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes the greatest strength doesn't come from a flawless mind or body, but from the grit, humor, and human connection it takes to put the pieces back together and play on. It leaves you wondering: what other quiet revolutions are happening on boards and in communities we haven't heard about yet?