GRANDMASTER IN RESIDENCE SPOTLIGHT: GM Robert Hungaski

How Robert Hungaski Discovered Chess

The old saying goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” For Grandmaster Robert Hungaski, that first step came in first grade with a simple note sent home to his parents. Hungaski’s teacher had brought in a chessboard, explained the basic rules, and let the students play around.

“I kind of got into it,” Hungaski said. “She wrote a note to my mom saying, ‘Robert seems to enjoy chess—maybe he could explore this beyond school.'”

After his teacher suggested that he pursue chess outside the classroom, the rest of Hungaski’s life would gradually begin to take shape. In particular, high-level success in his youth set the stage for everything that followed.

“What really got me excited about chess were the Pan-American and World Youth events,” he said. “They were held in a different country every year. Once you got there, it felt like the best players from every country were there. That was your shot.”

Hungaski’s Path to Grandmaster

Hungaski went on to earn the International Master title at just 18 years old. While the milestone felt natural, the path to Grandmaster proved far more challenging. As a result, he had to rethink both his expectations and his approach.

“It took me years to realize progress isn’t linear,” he explained. “I had to completely change how I was approaching things. I rearranged some metaphorical pieces and came at it from a different angle. When I finally got it, it felt like a huge weight was lifted.”

For Hungaski, chess has always been a mirror. It reflects development not only as a player, but also as a person. While his style has evolved, he has consistently leaned toward positional chess rather than purely tactical battles.

“When I look back at games from 20 years ago, sometimes I don’t even recognize myself,” Hungaski said. “The way I played then isn’t how I’d play now. I think chess games are a reflection of your personality and what you’re going through at the time. As you grow as a person, your chess changes with it.”

You Win or You Learn

Chess, like any worthwhile pursuit, comes with highs and lows. Hungaski studies his defeats closely because outcomes often hinge on a single decision. Over time, recognizing patterns—especially how a player responds under pressure—can make a decisive difference.

“For every good tournament, there are probably ten terrible ones,” Hungaski said. “Over time, you almost forget the bad ones as a defense mechanism.”

“When a tournament slips away, it’s really because a game slipped away—one move,” he added. “I keep a collection of decisive games. Specifically, these are ones where the tournament situation made them critical.”

Hungaski and Grandmaster William Lombardy

One of the most influential figures in Hungaski’s development was Grandmaster William Lombardy. Above all, Lombardy emphasized balance—an idea Hungaski continues to stress today. Education, personal growth, and long-term thinking, Lombardy taught him, were not distractions from chess. Instead, they were essential to it.

“He really opened my mind beyond chess,” Hungaski said. “He encouraged me to read outside chess, to go to university, and to approach the GM title differently. I actually stopped playing chess for several years while I was in college. Then I got my final GM norm during my senior year.”

The experience reinforced a lesson Hungaski now shares with students. Improvement does not always come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from doing things differently—and sometimes from stepping away long enough to see both the game and life more clearly.

GM Robert Hungaski Returns to the Saint Louis Chess Club

Hungaski first came to the Saint Louis Chess Club in 2014. More than a decade later, he continues to return as part of the Club’s GM in Residence program. That consistency speaks to both the environment and the mission of the organization.

“There’s no place quite like it,” Hungaski said. “As a coach, this is the place where you can come and show what you’re working on.”

The Club stands apart not only because of its facilities, but also because of the culture it has built around competitive chess, education, and accessibility to the community. That focus creates a rare opportunity for meaningful interaction. Players are not just attending events or taking lessons—they immerse themselves fully.

“It’s like the perfect stadium if you’re into chess,” Hungaski said. “You walk in, and everything around you is focused on the game. It really feels like the epicenter of chess right now. If you want to see what’s happening in the chess world, this is where you come.”

The opportunity to return year after year, work with different players, and engage with a community that values both instruction and experience is what continues to draw him back.

“I enjoy coming here very much,” Hungaski said. “Every time I’m here, you can feel that people care about chess—and about getting better.”

Inside the Grandmaster in Residence Program | GM Robert Hungaski

The Grandmaster in Residence program at the Saint Louis Chess Club is about access. It gives players the opportunity to learn directly from someone who has navigated the full arc of professional chess.

“Being able to sit down in person with someone who’s done this professionally is not easy to come by,” Hungaski said. “You get to share experience, get up to date, and just absorb what’s going on in the chess world.”

In addition, Hungaski highlighted the value of exposure to how Grandmasters think, evaluate positions, and reflect on their own decisions. No one can replicate this kind of learning through books or online play alone.

“Every time I come here, I feel like I’m putting my finger on the pulse of chess,” he said.

Thanks to the program’s rotating instructors, participants encounter both the shared foundations of high-level chess and the individual nuances that shape different playing styles. That variety, Hungaski believes, is one of the program’s greatest strengths.

“No one coach has all the answers,” he said. “You start to notice common ideas among grandmasters, but also the wrinkles that reflect different styles.”

How Students Get the Most from GM Robert Hungaski

According to Hungaski, the most meaningful moments often happen after the “battle has been fought,” so to speak.

“Mostly analysis,” he said. “After games, players bring them over, and we go through them in detail.”

Those sessions rarely remain one-on-one for long. As other games finish, players gather, listen, and contribute. As a result, individual lessons turn into shared learning experiences.

“You stick around, someone else finishes their game, and suddenly you’re analyzing for hours,” Hungaski said. “That kind of shared post-game analysis is incredibly valuable.”

Direct feedback helps players recognize patterns—both in thought and in play. It is this blend of access, perspective, and community that defines the GM in Residence experience.

When it comes to improvement, Hungaski emphasizes discipline—but also balance.

“We all know what needs to be done,” he said. “There’s no mystery about which books to read or tournaments to play. You have to eat your spinach.”

At the same time, he believes long-term success requires more than chess study alone.

“Nutrition, fitness, psychology—everything needs to be in harmony if you want to reach your potential,” Hungaski said. “Chess teaches you patience. If you keep showing up, keep learning, and stay honest about where you are, the results take care of themselves.”

Over time, Hungaski has found that where you learn matters as much as how you learn.

“Just like players play to their strengths, coaches coach the way they coach best,” he said. “The important thing is finding an environment that helps you grow.”