Three years ago, David Gracey was going through the breakup of his marriage of 25 years. He still lived with one of his two children and his two dogs, but found himself with more alone time now. Whenever he had a free moment, he would pass the time by playing Words with Friends, a multiplayer online game similar to Scrabble.
Mr. Gracey, 52, liked the game, but it was not always the most engaging since he didn’t have many “friends” to play against. But as he was browsing around the app one night, he noticed a chat option that suggested people who could be challenged.
“And there she was,” he said. “Dewi — my ‘Match of the Day.’ She was gorgeous, with long dark hair, a sparkle of kindness in her eyes, and the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. I challenged her to a game and she accepted.”
Nirmala Dewi, 47, (pronounced DAY-wee), had also experienced the breakup of her long-term marriage. She had been playing Words with Friends since 2011, but never wanted to talk to anyone. “I just wanted to play and win,” she said.
One night she decided to play a quick game before going to sleep and received a message from her opponent saying, “Hello from Los Angeles.”
“There were times when people would send me a chat, but I never had the urge to reply,” Ms. Dewi said. “When I received David’s message, I saw his smile and felt his beautiful spirit. I replied ‘Hi from Chicago.’”
“Unlike my usual opponents, Dewi was an extremely active player,” Mr. Gracey said. “Whenever I would make a move, she would follow suit. She was really good, kicking my butt repeatedly. I enjoyed playing with her. It made me feel like I wasn’t alone anymore.” They continued to play and chat into the wee hours of the morning. Their interactions continued daily.
During their conversations they discovered they had many similarities. They both had earned bachelor’s degrees — Ms. Dewi in international business from Queensland University of Technology in Australia — Mr. Gracey a bachelor’s degree in information technology from California State University.
They both worked in higher education information technology. They both had two children — a girl and a boy who were five years apart. They both shared a strong faith in God. They both loved outdoor activities and had the same interests in music, movies, food, and travel. “I even learned that her Indonesian name Dewi is the female version of ‘David,’ my name,” Mr. Gracey said. “Our connection was undeniable.”
The couple traveled back and forth to visit each other monthly. When they were not together in person, they were together on FaceTime. “We were always in tune with each other,” Ms. Dewi said. “We could detect the other person’s thoughts and feelings. We would say the same things at the same time and finish each other’s sentences. We could feel each other’s emotions and would know immediately if the other was feeling sad or anxious about something.”
As time went on, it was clear to Mr. Gracey that he couldn’t live without Ms. Dewi. “My ‘Match of the Day’ turned out to be the ‘Match of My Life,’” he said.
Mr. Gracey relocated to Chicago in December 2020. Because they both love the water and had many magical moments along the Chicago River, including the night when he proposed on the Wabash Avenue Bridge, they decided to have their wedding on the water.
They were married aboard Chicago’s first lady on July 17, 2021 while cruising the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Erika Arias, who is ordained through the Universal Life Church, officiated. Sixty family members and friends attended.
“The day was magical,” Ms. Dewi said. “We were surrounded by family and friends with so much love and happiness. “It was our fairy-tale dream come true.”