Paralyzed Chess Player Noland Arbaugh Invited to Speed Chess Championship Finals in Paris

Noland Arbaugh, a 30-year-old from Yuma, Arizona, has defied the odds and made a remarkable comeback after a swimming accident left him paralyzed from the neck down eight years ago. Thanks to a groundbreaking brain-computer interface developed by Neuralink, Arbaugh can now control a computer cursor with his mind and even play chess.

His love for the game of chess dates back to his childhood when he discovered his father’s glass chess set. Despite facing challenges in organizing a chess team in high school, Arbaugh’s passion for the game never wavered. Fast forward to today, he has become the world’s first human recipient of a brain implant that has restored his motor function and allowed him to play chess once again.

Arbaugh’s journey with Neuralink has not only transformed his life but also reconnected him with friends and family. With the ability to send text messages in seconds and control a computer cursor with his brain, he has found a new sense of independence and freedom.

Now, Arbaugh has been invited by Chess.com to attend the Speed Chess Championship Finals in Paris as a special guest. His resilience and love for the game have inspired many, and he is looking forward to witnessing his favorite player, Magnus Carlsen, compete in the finals.

Despite his current rating of around 1300, Arbaugh is determined to improve and reach a rating of 2000. He also has aspirations of becoming a chess streamer in the future. As he heads to Paris for the championship finals, Arbaugh’s story serves as a testament to the power of determination and the transformative potential of technology.