Lukasz Nowak’s movement off the board may be restricted, but on the chessboard, he can move better than most people. Last month the remarkable 25-year-old fulfilled all requirements for the IM title.
Just months after his birth, FM Lukasz Nowak from Poland was diagnosed with a severe form of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic neuromuscular disease that results in progressive muscle wasting. Currently, he is unable to move nearly all of his body, needing assistance to perform day-to-day actions.
He learned chess from his grandfather when he was seven years old. He has now reached a level few others can dream of. On FIDE’s latest July list, Nowak is rated at 2408, thanks to significant progress in the last two years.
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