Our Future Chess Players

There’s something fascinating about chess!

I only learnt how to play this strategic game a few years ago and although, I may not be the best player, I still enjoy it (even when I don't win). It’s slow, quiet and doesn’t come with flashy graphics or sound effects - but somehow, it still captures attention, especially when you see a child totally absorbed in a game.

Recently, I came across a research article that explored whether playing chess could actually help improve a young person’s learning and brain development (link below)...and it got me thinking.

The idea behind the study was to find out if playing chess helps kids do better in school, especially in subjects like maths. Some people believe it does, they call it the “Chess Effect.” The logic makes sense: chess teaches you to plan ahead, think logically and recognise patterns. All of those skills are useful in the classroom too, right?

The researchers looked at a lot of studies on this and found that, while some showed positive results, others didn’t. A few kids who played chess did improve in maths, but overall, the evidence wasn’t super clear. A big reason for that is the quality of the studies themselves - many of them were too small or didn’t compare chess-playing students to others properly. So, for now, we can’t say for sure that chess makes kids better at schoolwork. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing.

Here’s the thing, chess might not turn every child into a maths genius, but maybe that’s not the point. What if its value lies somewhere else?

Qualities like focus, patience, resilience and learning how to lose without giving up. These aren’t things we can easily measure, but they matter a lot in life and especially in the world our children are growing up in. And let's not forget, chess is accessible. It doesn’t require expensive equipment or a fancy background. It brings kids together from all walks of life and gives them something to connect over.

There are many examples of this worldwide:

• Chess in Slums Africa – Nigeria: Founded by Tunde Onakoya in 2018, Chess in Slums Africa is a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering children in impoverished communities through chess. The initiative has trained over 200 children, with some earning lifelong scholarships. Notably, in May 2021, a 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy won a chess tournament in Makoko, later meeting and competing with the governor of Lagos State!

• Chess Palace – Hungary: Developed by Grandmaster Judit Polgár, the Chess Palace programme integrates chess into Hungary's national curriculum for primary school children. The initiative aims to enhance problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, using chess to teach various subjects like maths and language. The programme has been recognised for its innovative approach to education.

• Mind Champions Academy – India: A collaboration between Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and NIIT Ltd, the Mind Champions Academy promotes chess in schools across India. Since its inception, over a million students in more than 5,000 schools have benefited from the programme, which provides resources and conducts annual tournaments to foster a love for the game and its cognitive benefits.

• ChessKid – Global: ChessKid is an online platform offering interactive tools, puzzles, and lessons to make chess fun and engaging for children. It has been integrated into educational programmes worldwide, including Romania's "Education through Chess" initiative, which trained over 3,800 teachers and created more than 40,000 student accounts. The platform helps develop logical thinking and enthusiasm for learning among young students.

• Early Years Skills Programme – Europe: The Early Years Skills programme uses a giant chessboard and psychomotor activities to develop sensory-motor capacity, self-esteem and social skills in young children. This innovative approach introduces children to chess concepts while enhancing their overall development.

  
  

These initiatives highlight the versatile role of chess in fostering cognitive and personal growth among children. That alone feels powerful!

What are your thoughts on integrating chess into educational programmes? Do you think schools should make more space for games like this in their day-to-day teaching? Or is it just another overhyped trend?

Let me know your thoughts below!

Link to the study --> https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5322219/