NIMBLE MINDS CHESS
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

​​

11/9/2021 0 Comments

Mikhail Tal "the Magician from Riga" - World Chess Champion


Mikhail Tal was the 8th World Chess Champion and believed to be the fiercest attacking player ever to hold the title.  He won the Soviet Championship in 1957 and 1958.  He also won the 1958 Interzonal Tournament and the 1959 Candidates Tournament, and became the then youngest World Chess Champion in 1960.


Tal was known as “the Magician from Riga" and inspired many players by his highly creative and explosive style.  His legacy lives on in his numerous writings and in the Mikhail Tal Memorial tournament, which features many of the world’s strongest players.

Tal is credited for the following famous chess quote:

"You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and where the path leading out is only wide enough for one"


For additional information and famous game of Mikhail Tal.

Source: World Chess Hall of Fame

0 Comments

5/9/2021 2 Comments

Spotlight on Talia Rolle

Picture
Talia Rolle

Interviewer: Talia, congratulations on your graduation from high school. Your final year was completed during a pandemic. What was that like for you? What were some of the challenges? Were there any benefits?

Talia: Firstly, thank you. Completing my final year of high school during a pandemic was rough. I barely had a proper summer before it, considering that I had BGCSEs from July to September. They kept getting postponed due to surges of covid outbreaks, and instead of cancelling them altogether, the ministry insisted that we took the exams anyway. Then, once they did confirm the dates and release the schedules, the exams were postponed again after one week of testing. It was mentally exhausting having to take exams under those conditions, and the constant back and forth made it even more difficult to prepare. As for my senior year, I started it a bit late due to the delay of the BGCSEs, and missed almost an entire month of lessons. As a result, my school year felt very rushed, especially with the impending AP exams I had at the end of it. Trying to manage that while also looking for and applying to colleges was quite stressful. The majority of the school year was also spent online before switching to a hybrid-learning model. I had grown accustomed to online school, but when we returned to in-person classes, it was crazy seeing how much had changed. We had to wear masks at all times (aside from eating), we were only allowed to walk in one direction on each corridor to prevent crowding, and the campus felt empty with so few people present at a time. It was not my ideal senior year experience, but I managed to somewhat enjoy myself during it. Being taught face-to-face is definitely a more effective learning method for me personally, but online learning had its own set of advantages. I had more access to assistive learning materials, and I had more flexibility than I did in person. It was unfortunate that I didn’t get to spend my senior year in person with my friends, or participate in the usual senior events that were organized before covid, but I managed to make it through regardless.

​
Interviewer: During your high school years, were you active in non-academic activities? Which ones and what about those activities interest you?

Talia: During my high school years, I did Track & Field, and attended music lessons. (other than chess club, of course). For track & field, I really just enjoyed running. The sport kept me focused, disciplined, and although it was tiring, it gave me a chance to clear my head after long days at school. As for my music lessons, I play the flute and the piano, and I’ve always had a love for music. I was even part of a concert band, and had a lot of fun playing with them at recitals.



Interviewer: I believe it is safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all human life on this planet. Has this pandemic changed or impacted the outlook on the future of you, your friends and/or your associates? If so then how?

Talia: This pandemic has impacted the outlook of the future for me and several others. I am a recent high-school graduate, and usually the next course of action would be university. However, because of the fluctuating numbers of covid cases, it makes it difficult to go on campus or attend classes in person, so almost everything is virtual. I feel like this takes away from the exciting parts of the university experience, and I’m sure it is the same for many others. Some people are afraid to travel abroad to attend their classes in person, even if their universities allow it. This is especially difficult for students with practical, “hands-on” majors like myself, who would prefer to have in-person lessons. So, I feel like this pandemic has really robbed people of experiences they were looking forward to, whether they were academic, or just personal desires.


Interviewer: Speaking about the future, what is next for you? College or University?

Talia: This fall I will be attending the University of The Bahamas to major in music performance with flute as my primary instrument, and piano as my minor instrument. However, I do plan to study abroad later.


Interviewer: When you graduated from high school, you were a student chess player. How did you come to chess? Did chess find you or did you find chess? What were your initial impressions about chess? Were those impressions accurate?

Talia: I had known about the game of chess for years, but I was properly introduced to the game in grade 7, during my first Latin class. You would think that we would be learning actual Latin on the first day, but instead, we learned how to play chess. That one session piqued my interest, and I started taking lessons from my mom’s co-worker, Mr. Kean Smith. My initial impressions about chess were that the game seemed boring, complex, and that it was only for really smart people. However, after properly learning, I came to realize that it isn’t boring at all, and is not as difficult as it seems. There are so many different strategies and move combinations to play, and you don’t necessarily need to be a genius to think of them.


Interviewer: How long did it take for you to learn how to play chess? Is it a difficult game to learn?

Talia: It didn’t take me very long to learn how to play chess. It is a challenging game, and there are a lot of rules to remember, but once you memorize those and learn the fundamentals of the game, it becomes easier to progress and start to form your own strategies. It also helps to constantly play other people (preferably stronger opponents), learn moves from them, and try to incorporate those into your own playing style.



Interviewer: What did your friends say when you told them about your interest in chess?

Talia: I don’t completely remember, but one thing I can say for sure is that they were not very surprised, since I apparently “look” like someone who plays chess. Other than that, a few of them asked me to teach them how to play, and even joined our school’s chess club.


Interviewer: How did you benefit from learning how to play chess?

Talia: Learning how to play chess significantly improved my critical thinking skills, and it taught me to always consider my options carefully before making a decision, whether within the game or in real life.


Interviewer: Would you recommend chess as an activity to other teenagers or for younger children? Why?

Talia: I would definitely recommend chess as an activity to other teenagers and younger children. It can help both groups to improve their concentration skills, it’s a way to build creativity, and it is generally a fun and enjoyable game.


Interviewer: Some people believe that girls are not as good at playing chess as boys. What are you general thoughts about that?

Talia: I don’t believe that boys are naturally better at playing chess than girls. It is true that the highest ranked players are male, but that is mainly because most of the players are male. But overall, I think it just depends on individual practice, skill, and talent. Wherever those lie, the strongest players can be found, regardless of gender.


Interviewer: As a student player, did you choose to play in any chess tournaments or friendly matches? What was it like playing in your first tournament? Were there any other chess events that were memorable?

Talia: I played in several chess tournaments as a student player. My first chess tournament was actually a team tournament at Tambearly, where I played a lot of younger children because I was older than the majority of my teammates. This tournament was probably the most memorable for me. Our match lasted until the very end of the tournament, so we were the last two players at a board, and all eyes were on us. The pressure was a lot to handle, and eventually, I ran out of time. It was a bit embarrassing considering that I lost to a 2nd grader, but I think I handled the loss quite well. I’m sure that kid was happy, anyway.
I would say that my matches at the Center for the Deaf and the Brenton Smith Scholastic Tournament were also pretty memorable. Both events allowed me to play very skilled and interesting opponents.


Interviewer: GM Vasily Symslov, former World Chess Champion, was an opera singer. In your view, are there any similarities between music and chess? Please explain.

Talia: I think that there are some similarities between music and chess. Both require a certain level of creativity and focus. Improvisation, for example, is something that is utilized in both music and chess. Musicians improvise notes and melodies, while chess players may improvise openings, or their entire game really, instead of relying on a specific strategy, and I feel like this is where creativity comes into play. Both music and chess also involve recognizing patterns. In pieces of music, notes often follow pitch and/or rhythmic patterns, and these patterns may repeat themselves throughout the music. The musician has to take note of these patterns, and be able to recognize them when they appear in different sections of the piece, or when similar patterns show up in other pieces of music, so that they can play as accurately as possible. A similar concept can be applied to chess. It is important to be able to identify certain playing patterns, and openings, so that the player can come up with effective counterattacks. Therefore, both music and chess require both creativity and focus.


Interviewer: Is there anything that can be done to make chess more appealing to teenage girls?

Talia: I don’t think that anything really needs to be done to make chess more appealing to teenage girls. Not every teenage girl is the same. Although there were mostly boys in my high school chess club, there was a fair amount of girls in there (including myself). I even invited a few of my female friends to join, and they enjoyed it and became active members of the club. So, in my opinion, if you like it, you like it and if you don’t, you don’t. I don’t think that chess has any aspects that would be more appealing to any gender, no matter what stage of life they may be in. If you are someone who doesn’t mind exercising your brain with something that is not school/academic related and enjoys strategy games, then chess is the game for you. But on the other hand, I think it would help if people would stop pushing the concept that chess is solely a male sport. Chess is a male-dominated sport, and I feel like that alone can be discouraging to some women, especially when they try to participate, and get insulted for even trying due to their gender. That is why I always love seeing articles about female chess players like Judit Polgar and Hou Yifan, who are the top female players in the world right now, but also local female players who are very skilled, like Daijah Johnson Trinity Pinder. This kind of recognition can be inspiring to other girls who may be interested in chess.


Interviewer: Lastly, a question on “Climate change”. What should we know about how climate change is impacting your generation?

Talia: Climate change is having a detrimental impact on not only my generation, but every generation that is alive right now, and will impact the generations to come if sufficient measures are not taken to combat it. Climate change raises the intensity of natural disasters, damages marine resources, and even threatens wildlife. Although action is being taken, and many organizations are working to fight against climate change, there is always more to be done. So doing small things to benefit the environment like recycling, composting, using less fossil fuels, and using biodegradable products can reduce pollution, and ultimately contribute to the fight against climate change.

Picture
2 Comments

30/8/2021 0 Comments

Buying Your First Chess Set

PictureStandard 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 [email protected] 

0 Comments

20/8/2021 0 Comments

Spotlight on Caiden Moxey

PictureCaiden'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.


Picture
Caiden playing chess
0 Comments

11/8/2021 0 Comments

Upcoming Event - World Chess Championship 2021


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  

Picture
Photo by Ernesto Velázquez on Unsplash
0 Comments

2/8/2021 0 Comments

Spotlight on Ashanti Marshall

PictureAshanti 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.

Picture
(Photo by Kean Smith) Ashanti (Left) playing a casual game during group chess classes in September, 2019
0 Comments

21/7/2021 0 Comments

World Chess Day - 20 July

Picture
"Did you know that "[a]bout 70% of the adult population (US, UK, Germany, Russia, India) has played chess at some point in their lives, 605 million adults play chess regularly."

"Chess for Recovering Better
Throughout history, games and sports have helped humanity to survive times of crisis by reducing anxieties and improving mental health. While the coronavirus outbreak has forced most gaming and sports activities to scale down, chess has demonstrated remarkable resilience, adaptability and a very strong convening power in time of pandemic.
Over the past few months, the overall interest in chess is reported to have doubled, with more players than ever coming together to participate in chess events that are being increasingly held through online platforms."









​​














​"Chess for Sustainable Development

The United Nations recognizes that sports, the arts and physical activity have the power to change perceptions, prejudices and behaviours, as well as to inspire people, break down racial and political barriers, combat discrimination and defuse conflict, and therefore contribute in promoting education, sustainable development, peace, cooperation, solidarity, social inclusion and health at the local, regional and international levels.
Chess is one of the most ancient, intellectual and cultural games, with a combination of sport, scientific thinking and elements of art. As an affordable and inclusive activity, it can be exercised anywhere and played by all, across the barriers of language, age, gender, physical ability or social status.
Chess is a global game, which promotes fairness, inclusion and mutual respect, and noting in this regard that it can contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding among peoples and nations.
Chess also offers important opportunities in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, including strengthening education, realizing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls and fostering inclusion, tolerance, mutual understanding and respect."

Source: 
United Nations. (n.d.-b). World Chess Day 20 July. Retrieved July 21, 2021, from https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-chess-day 


0 Comments

20/7/2021 2 Comments

Upcoming Chess Event ... Saturday 31 July, 2021

2 Comments

28/5/2021 0 Comments

Spotlight on Aidan Mart


Many years ago chess had a reputation of being a slow moving game played and enjoyed mainly by older people.  Over the past decade or so, chess has become more popular with younger people especially school age children.

Below, I interviewed Aidan, who is one of the top junior chess players in The Bahamas, about chess and science. 

​Interviewer: Aidan, thank you for agreeing to this interview.  As we begin, would you please share how or who introduced you to chess and what were your first impressions of the game?  

Aidan: I was introduced to chess by my father in 2010.  I was immediately intrigued by the game, especially by the sheer number of possible combinations – so many opportunities for creativity!  The way the pieces moved was also interesting; each one seemed to fill the gaps the others left, leaving a constantly dynamic position on the board.



Interviewer: I believe it is safe to describe you as a tournament player.  What did you expect in your first chess tournament?  How well did the tournament live up to your expectations?  
​
Aidan: I participated in my first tournament in 2019: the Scholastic Individual.  I had previously scorned tournaments as overly competitive and without purpose, but when I actually participated in one, it was much different from what I expected.  The games were difficult and complicated; the players were strong, and I encountered players at my playing level, giving me great insight into my own weaknesses and flaws.  The tournament far surpassed my expectations, and was exceptionally fun to play in.


​Interviewer: Which tournaments have you played in internationally?  What was the format and how were the general playing conditions for the players?  How did those international tournaments differ from the domestic tournaments you participate in?  


Aidan: I’ve played in CARIFTA 2019 and the NAYCC 2019.  Both had a 90|30 format and the games were played in a large, quiet room.  These tournaments differed from the domestic tournaments in that there were, compared to the players I usually played in the BCF, very strong players around every corner, making many of my games complicated and difficult.  Additionally, they were comically militant on maintaining “ABSOLUTE SILENCE,” according to the CARIFTA lead arbiter.  However, because of these differences (maybe not so much the arbiter), I learned much from these games, and they have impacted my play to this day.

Picture
Aidan Mart
Interviewer: In your view and experience, what are some of the benefits of learning and playing chess?  

Aidan: Firstly, scientific studies show that chess significantly improves rapid critical thinking among players.  Secondly, chess can give one insight into other occurrences in life that seem unresolvable.  Thirdly, the game itself is fun to play and is a great source of entertainment.


Interviewer: I have read some chess articles discussing whether chess is a sport, art or science?  In which category do you believe chess fits and why?  

Aidan: I think chess is a sport, but not the normal, athletic type (though the exhaustion is real).  Chess is a mental sport: you sit down at a table in front of a problem and think deeply for hours on end about how to solve it.  This can leave you mentally fatigued.


Interviewer: In 1996, Garry Kasparov, then World Chess Champion, won a chess match against an IBM supercomputer called “Deep Blue.”  One year later Deep Blue won the rematch 4 – 2.  What is your opinion of computer chess software?  Are they good for chess or not? If so, how?  

Aidan: I think they are somewhere in between.  Computers certainly have contributed to deep position analysis, opening novelties, and endgames, but they also open the door for accessible cheating.  For one, computers can now fit into extremely small containers – some as small as a thumb drive – and still are able to defeat even the strongest players.


Interviewer: I understand that former World Chess Champions had other talents and expertise besides playing chess.  For example, Vassily Smyslov was also an opera singer and Max Euwe was a mathematician.  In your view, are any of those disciplines, music or mathematics, compatible or naturally connected with chess?  If so, how?  

Aidan: I think chess has deep connections to mathematics, especially in statistics and graph theory.  Graph theorists commonly pose questions or examples in the form of a chessboard and a certain type of piece.  For example, how many queens can fit on an 8x8 chessboard without attacking each other?


Interviewer: I understand that you have an interest in space.  Do you believe that humans will ever play chess on Mars, and how much longer would you estimate before that happens?  

Aidan: I certainly think that humans will play chess on Mars at some point in the future, although how far in the future is up for debate.  NASA’s Artemis program is a precursor to their humans-to-Mars goal, but SLS has not even launched once yet, and the program is likely to extend into the 2030s before completion.  SpaceX’s aspirational goal for crewed Starship landings on Mars is in the late 2020s or early 2030s.  Only time will tell how long it will be.

​
Interviewer:  Lastly Aidan, how has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your chess playing activities and do you plan on playing any tournaments this summer?

Aidan: During the pandemic, I stared actively playing on online platforms, Lichess especially.  I've continued to play over-the-board games to keep in practice for in-person tournaments and I definitely plan to participate in tournaments this summer. 


 

0 Comments

21/5/2021 0 Comments

How to avoid students learning loss during the summer vacation

PictureBoy reading - Photo by Aaron Burden

In January this year, the United Nations focused on the global learning disruption that is occurring in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The learning disruption is compounded by the digital divide between urban and rural communities, and inequalities.  

In addition to the learning disruption, summer vacation is approaching for many students which is associated with the well-known "summer slide".  Summer slide is the tendency for students to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous year. 






​













​Besides reading, educational, fun enrichment activities like chess should help reduce the dreaded summer slide. We intend to offer online chess classes and activities this summer starting July.

If you are interested, then let us know.  The intake will be small, and spaces will be limited since existing students will be given the firsts right of refusal.

Send inquiries to [email protected]

0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Author

    Kean Smith is a qualified FIDE National Chess Instructor and former member of FIDE's Chess in School Commission.
    Contact: [email protected]

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    January 2025
    September 2024
    August 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021

    Categories

    All Benefits Of Chess Chess Classes Chess Club At School COVID-19 And Education International Day Online Chess Regulations Protocol For Over-the-board Events Spotlight On Student Players Students Tactics Teachers And Chess World Chess Champion Bio World Chess Champion - Bio

    RSS Feed

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Bluehost
Photos from Ivan Radic, Mr Moss, Fibonacci Blue