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30/8/2021 0 Comments Buying Your First Chess Set Standard tournament chess set (Photo by Deva Darshan on Unsplash. ) So you are now considering buying your student chess player his/her first chess set?
Well here is a tip. The chess set should be functional and durable. A functional chess set would be fit for its purpose. In this case you want a chess set that can be used in World Chess Federation (FIDE) regulated tournament. Chess sets comprise the pieces and the board. Please ensure that the chessboard has letters and numbers printed on the edges of the chessboard. As for the chess pieces, please ensure that they are durable and can comfortably take the dropping and tumbling that they are likely to experience. So I recommend a solid plastic tournament regulation chess set. A quick call or email to a community chess club or chess association will ensure that you are directed to a suitable chess set to fit your budget and your student chess player’s needs. For additional information send email to kean@nimblemindschess.org
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20/8/2021 0 Comments Spotlight on Caiden Moxey Caiden's awards and well wishes A few months ago we started highlighting student chess players who are connected with Nimble Minds Chess. In the interview below, we are highlighting Caiden Moxey. Caiden recently finished primary school and was nominated for an award for his outstanding performance. Interviewer: Caiden, I understand that you were nominated and received an award recently. Which organisation granted the award and what was the award for? What else can you share about the award? Caiden: Yes, I was awarded with a $3,000 scholarship from the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation as a prize for my primary school academic achievements and civic involvement. I also received a laptop, trophies and other gifts. I was ranked 10th out of 100 of the Bahamas’ best and brightest primary school students nationwide. I was also awarded many other awards at my graduation which were: Class Valedictorian; Principal's Award; Dean's List; Most Outstanding Student Award; RA Academic Excellence Award; Academic Science Award; Academic Arts Award; Perfect Punctuality and Attendance Awards; Top Achievement in Grammar; Health; Literature; Science; Social Studies; Spelling; Mathematics; Reading; Religion and Written Composition. Interviewer: Congratulations on your awards. Were you active in school? Which activities or clubs did you participate in? Do you believe that any of them helped you succeed as a student? Which ones and how? Caiden: Thank you. I was very active throughout my entire primary school. There were lots of activities and clubs at my school, so everyday I participated in a club like Math Club, Science Club, Soccer Club, Choir, Spanish Club, and Spelling Club. In the latter part of my primary school years I became a hall monitor then a school prefect and finally in my last year I was selected as the school’s head boy. I believe these clubs were extremely useful for me to succeed as they brought even more depth to the subjects that were taught in class and they helped to make me more confident. Interviewer: What were some of your favourite subjects in primary school and why? Caiden: My favorite subjects were science and math, because math and science are everywhere, and you come across these subjects in your day to day life. They cause me to think; sparking my curiosity and making me wonder about how different things work. Interviewer: Now that you are finished, what are some of the things that you will miss about primary school and why? Caiden: I will mostly miss the different activities and the fun clubs we had at our school; and all of the special days like My Bahamas Day, Commonwealth Day and Crazy Socks Day. Those were like a fun day when we didn't have classes, instead we had a school assembly which ended in a festival of foods from the various islands and countries. Interviewer: The new school year is about to begin in about two weeks. What are some of the things that you are looking forward to in Junior School? Caiden: I am looking forward to meeting new people, joining different clubs and finding out about different activities that I can get involved in. I am also looking forward to learning new subjects that my new school may offer. Interviewer: You play chess. Who introduced you to chess and what was your initial impression of the game? Caiden: My older brother introduced me to chess when I was around 6 years old. At that age, I found chess interesting, however, I couldn’t play and I didn't know the rules. But watching my brother play on the computer caught my attention and caused me to be curious. He taught me the basics about the game, then I started to get more and more interested, until I decided to start teaching myself by watching YouTube videos. Interviewer: What are some of the things you like about chess and why? Caiden: I like how chess is a complex strategic game. The way the board changes so quickly interests and excites me. I find strategic games more fun and challenging, because it relies on your thinking ability and skills rather than chance. Interviewer: Some people might say that you are too young to be playing chess and instead you should be doing something else. What is your reply to that? Caiden: I believe chess is made for people of all ages. A game like chess is never too big of a game for anyone. Even though chess is a complex game, the game of chess really relies mostly on strategic thinking. As long as someone can strategically think, that person can play chess no matter the age. Interviewer: In some countries introduction to chess is offered as a class. Do you believe that chess as a subject would benefit primary school age children? If yes then how? Caiden: I believe that chess as a subject that would benefit primary school aged children because chess is able to develop strong minds. The game requires focus and strategic thinking, which would benefit them in their classes and in their lives in general. The earlier young minds could be developed the better it is for the student. It could be offered as an club or it could be offered as part of a student program to help develop their thinking and reasoning skills Interviewer: Was chess a popular activity at your school? In your opinion, is there any way that chess can be made more attractive to children your age? Caiden: Chess was not an activity at my school. I think chess can be made more attractive by being more widely taught; along with more chess plays and tournaments being showcased more often. I think not as many people play chess, because they do not actually know the game. I also remember my mother saying that when she wanted to buy a chess game for me, there was not much of a selection in the stores. So having the games more widely available in stores would help too. Interviewer: Are you aware of any of the former World Chess Champions? Which one of them do you find most interesting and why? Caiden: I am aware of some former World Chess Champions, but the one that most interests me is Anatoly Karpov, because he dominated his opponents, and stopped his opponents plans as soon as it started. He had great endurance and started playing chess at a young age. Interviewer: How would you classify chess? Would you classify it as a sport, art or science? Why? Caiden: I would classify chess as being a sport, art, and science. A sport because it is a competitive game based on overcoming your opponent. But mainly, for me, I view it as a science because of how fast the chess board can change. You will also need to study the board and moves to predict, draw conclusions and test your hypothesis to see if your strategies will work. An art because each person plays the game differently based on their creativity. Interviewer: Lastly, Caiden, what are your plans for chess during the upcoming school year? Caiden: For the upcoming school year, I am mainly planning to focus on my school work considering that I am entering a new school and grade. However, I still plan on playing chess whenever I get the opportunity because I really would like to improve my skills and become a better player.  Caiden playing chess Details of the upcoming World Chess Championship 2021 which was postponed from 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic are as follows: Defending Champion - GM Magnus Carlson (Norway) Challenger - GM Ian Nepomniachtich (Russia) Where: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Date: 24 November - 16 December Number of games in the match: 14 Prize fund: EUR 2 million (USD 2,360,000) "Starting on 27 November, 2021, the daily 30-minute shows on NBCSN from the FIDE World Championship Match 2021 will bring the highlights of each game not only to the hardcore chess fans but to the much wider and highly-engaged community of sports lovers throughout the United States. Each highlight show will be replayed the day after it premieres, totaling one hour of chess content every night, starting on 28 November and for the remaining duration of the match. " Commentary will be provided by GM Maurice Ashley. Source: FIDE website  Photo by Ernesto Velázquez on Unsplash 2/8/2021 0 Comments Spotlight on Ashanti Marshall Ashanti playing in her first chess tournament - The Independence Tornado, 2013 organised by The Bahamas Chess Federation. Who says chess is not for girls? Many girls play chess and enjoy the game equally as much as boys do. Like boys, some girls play for fun and some delve into chess tournaments. I recently had the opportunity to interview Ashanti, a recent high school graduate, about her experience with chess and how COVID-19 restrictions impacted her and her classmates during their final year of school. Interviewer: Since the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a pandemic in 2020, much has changed in our daily lives. What was it like for you having to attend classes, prepare assignment and for exams? What were some of the things that you or other students found different and challenging? Ashanti: The beginning of quarantine was actually quite fun, staying home all day, sleeping and playing games online with friends. The start of online school wasn’t all that challenging either, learning the digital platforms came easily and we didn’t have to bother with the stuffy uniforms anymore. Gradually the work load started to pick up but our class managed to rally together and push forward. It wasn’t until the next year with BGCSE’s on the horizon did everything become overwhelming. The teachers didn’t really care that we were unmotivated and struggling to get assignments completed in a timely fashion. We were so far behind the curriculum we had to attend extra classes for hours at a time on weekends. There was no time for relaxing anymore. Our failures were thrown in our faces endlessly and it even got to a point where kids stopped coming to school at all because they were tired of being berated. When they started integrating a mix of in person and online classes teachers would opt to give quizzes during in person days. Only a handful of us ever wrote anything on those thick papers they handed out. Most would just put their heads down and go to sleep because they didn’t know the information and couldn’t be bothered to try. Online schooling was terrible but the worst part about it was being told we didn’t have a right to be exhausted. Interviewer: During your school “career”, what were some of the extra-curricular activities you participated in? Ashanti: During my school career I participated in Art, Swimming, Piano and Chess as extra- curricular activities. Interviewer: Let us talk about chess. What was your first recollection of chess? And what did you think about the game at that time, your first impression? Ashanti: My first memory of chess is playing by myself on my bedroom floor not understanding the rules. My father noticed this and enrolled me in classes with Mr. Kean Smith. From there I remember sitting at the public stone boards across from the University of The Bahamas under the big tree, by ourselves going through workbook exercises. Not long after I started to find chess to be something to fall back on. It was simple to understand yet thrilling and difficult to play with strategy. Interviewer: I believe you have an interest in art? Why art and what steps have you taken to develop your interest? Ashanti: Where most classes felt like a competition for who could get the highest grade, art provided an entirely new relaxing and friendly environment. It’s not an outlined course. Art can quite literally be anything and everything you wish as well as made from anything and everything you wish. Art has always been a way for me to connect with myself during stressful times. To regroup and fully assess how I feel about situations by drawing or to just relax and enjoy some peace and quiet. I’ve taken art classes from grade 3 straight till grade 11 when Covid first hit. Interviewer: Do you have any favourite artists and what makes them standout to you? Ashanti: I do not have a favorite artist. Most of the artists I keep up with all practice more cartoon inspired styles and I’ve never really been able to pick one above all the others. STARember or Kasey Golden however are two that I regard very highly. Interviewer: In the chess world, some people say that chess is art, some describe it as science and others as sport. What if anything does chess have in common with art? Ashanti: Chess and art have a lot in common in the sense that no two people play the same way just as no two people produce the same artworks. Everyone has their own unique playing style that imbues some of their unique personality into every game. Interviewer: Did you benefit from playing chess? How? Ashanti: Chess class helped me break out of my shell a bit. Having other kids to talk and play with every Saturday outside of the ones I saw daily at school pushed me to be more outgoing. It’s not very easy to blend together with people of varying backgrounds but I always felt as if our club was like a family. We knew each other’s favorite snacks as well as favorite moves on the board. There was never a dull or malicious moment when we were together. Interviewer: Which sports were most popular at school? Did any of your teachers or friends in school play chess? What did your teachers and friends say when they found out that you play chess? Ashanti: The most popular sports at my school were track and basketball. We didn’t have a chess club so I never really shared with anyone at school that I played. When I did bring it up once in a while to express joy over a good game I played nobody ever understood what I was talking about but still listened with interest. My math teacher on one occasion found some games I recorded in the back of my book and forced me to explain to her how to read them. Interviewer: I believe you participated in a chess event with students of The Bahamas Red Cross Centre for the Deaf? What were your expectations before the event? Did you have any memorable experiences at the chess event? Ashanti: My expectations for the chess event with the students of The Bahamas Red Cross Centre for the deaf were wavering. I was extremely nervous before the event that the atmosphere would have been awkward but I was proven wrong immediately. The other kids seemed just as eager to meet us and even gave us our own nicknames in Sign Language. I still remember my nickname with fondness and hope to meet and play some of them again in the future. They were very tactical players. Interviewer: Would you recommend that parents introduce their children to chess as a possible activity? Why? Ashanti: I wholeheartedly recommend parents to introduce their children to chess, especially the more introverted ones. It’s an experience that every child should get the chance to participate in. Being a part of a team, creating bonds and pushing your brain to multitask, plan ahead. Interviewers: Is chess appealing to teenage girls? How can chess instructors and organisers make chess more appealing to teenage girls? Ashanti: I don’t think chess is very appealing to teenage girls at least not the ones that I know personally. I can’t really think of much that can be done to make the game seem attractive for a teenage girl. Maybe a more diverse selection of prizes a young lady might be interested in. Interviewer: When you consider the future, what is your view of space tourism? Is this something that you and your friends or former classmates might consider if the price of the tickets are right? Ashanti: In recent years humans have begun to be more forward thinking so I can Definitely see this as a big thing in the future. Once the price is right people today will do just about anything to experience space. I however barely enjoy getting on a plane to go on vacation I’m quite sure I could not handle getting on a rocket to go to space. However, one of my close friends’ loves astronomy and would jump at the chance to observe space from up close. Interviewer: Now that you have graduated from high school, what is next for you and do you believe you will continue to play chess? Ashanti: Now that I have graduated from high school I plan to attend university at St Francis Xavier’s in Nova Scotia Canada. I’d like to pursue a major in English and a minor in Art. I’ve been shying away from chess for a few months now but my love for the game has not died in the slightest and I hope to continue playing soon.  (Photo by Kean Smith) Ashanti (Left) playing a casual game during group chess classes in September, 2019 |
AuthorKean Smith is a qualified FIDE National Chess Instructor and former member of FIDE's Chess in School Commission. Archives
January 2025
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