GOLDEN, Colo. — Two chess masters from Golden are preparing to travel thousands of miles to represent the United States in an international competition for players with disabilities in Kazakhstan.

Brothers Griffin McConnell, 21, and Sullivan McConnell, 18, were selected for Team USA alongside three other players from around the country. Both are national masters, making them among the highest-rated chess players with disabilities in the country.

“Chess is the only sport that I know of that there's only one requirement,” Sullivan said. “You just have to be able to think.”

The tournament is only the second of its kind and is a necessary step toward chess becoming an Olympic sport. It will bring together competitors with a range of disabilities.

“We're going to be playing against people

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