CSC at the London Chess Classic

The 4th London Chess Classic 2012 took place at Olympia in London recently. Hundreds of school children from around the UK arrived daily for free chess lessons, tournaments and the opportunity to see the world number one Magnus Carlsen, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and current world champion Vishy Anand. Many other side events took place too including a festival of chess tournaments. The London Classic ran from December 1st to 10th.

 

See more photos of the junior events and visits.

The great chess revival: how the ancient game sharpens young minds

After all but vanishing from schools, the game is undergoing a revival thanks to its problem-solving skills

Richard Garner | 12 Nov 2012

Legend has it that the 1,500-year-old game of chess was invented after India’s then-ruler asked his wise men to devise a way of teaching royal children to become better thinkers and better generals on the battlefield.

 

Now, 30 years after it all but disappeared from state education, chess is making a dramatic comeback in British primary schools. Teachers have come to see it as a major stimulant for improving pupils’ concentration, if not their war-winning abilities – with academics believing it can also be used to improve maths skills.

 

A total of 175 schools – including those serving deprived areas – have reintroduced the game to the curriculum in the past two years. The charity behind its revival, Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC), is optimistic that the take-up will spread to 1,000 state schools in three years. [Read more].

Chess returns to the timetable

By Laura Clark | 12 November 2012

Schools are reintroducing chess lessons in an attempt to boost children’s brainpower. Three decades after it was virtually wiped out in state schools, the game is making a dramatic comeback.

 

In just two years, 175 primary schools across England and Wales have introduced formal teaching in chess. It follows research suggesting the ‘game of kings’ brings a range of educational benefits including improved concentration and memory. The charity spearheading the revival, Chess in Schools and Communities CSC, said its aim was to expose as many children as possible to the benefits of the game. [Read more].

CSC continues to receive good publicity

Chief Executive Malcolm Pein speaks about the work of the charity since 2010.

 

Introducing learners to chess at an early age will help boost matric results

By: Kelvin Kemm

9th November 2012

Dr Kemm is a nuclear physicist and is the CEO of Stratek Business Strategy Consultants

Newspapers recently announced the start of the annual matric exam trek for thousands of school learners. One could virtually hear the drum roll as the country waits, with bated breath, to see what the results will be. It is not only the matric pass rate that is of interest, but also the subjects that learners take. Maths and science are always the big-ticket subjects.

 

To drive our industrial economy, the nation needs people who can actually ‘do’ things; we need people who can think, people who can analyse and come to conclusions.

 

When some company employs an individual, that company will be investing in what that individual will do for the company in the future – it will not simply be buying what the person knows.

 

A person who is a walking encyclopaedia but cannot put any of that information to good use is not of much use to the company. It is output that makes money. At times, the public asks why the matric pass rate is not higher. Teachers tell me that, frequently, they can see, in the first couple of weeks of the school year, which learners in the class will not pass. It is rather immoral to allow a person to study all year, knowing that he or she is virtually certain to fail. But what can a teacher do? [Full article at Engineering News].

Chess is Free for Children at the London Chess Classic 2012

The 4th London Chess Classic 2012 will again offer free admission to children for the duration of the event which runs from December 1st to 10th.

 

Once again we are offering a comprehensive program of schools activities.

 

Adult and junior ticket holders receive admission to the tournament, which is being staged at London's prestigious Olympia Conference Centre, plus a guaranteed seat in the auditorium and access to the Commentary Room where some of the UK's leading Grandmasters will give insights into the play and answer questions.

 

The field is now complete and is absolutely stellar, with world number one Magnus Carlsen, the winner of the first two London Chess Classic tournaments trying to unseat the 13th world champion Vladimir Kramnik who won in 2011. The world champion Vishy Anand has yet to take the London Chess Classic title and having retained the world crown earlier this year, he will be looking to add the LCC to his long list of tournament victories.

This November, thousands of school students in Belgaum are set to sharpen their thinking and improve their IQ.

 

Chess is the new mantra the education department is chanting to enhance students' concentration. All the 1,400 schools in Belgaum have been directed to observe November as 'Chess Month'. Deputy director of public instruction Diwakar Shetty has instructed block education officers (BEOs) and school heads to purchase at least two chessboards, and ensure that children are taught chess during the time allotted for games. [Read more].

First EU municipality introduces chess as school subject

31.10.12 - Bulgaria has become the first European Union country to introduce chess as part of the formal school curriculum, the European Chess Union has announced. ECU and national federation president Silvio Danailov and local education officials were in the Bulgarian municipality of Slivitsa on 26 October for the formal opening of a new term which will feature chess on the curriculum for the first time, in accordance with the continental chess federation’s Chess in Schools initiative.

 

Eighty of the 240 children at the St Cyril and Methodius School in Slivitsa have chosen chess as a subject, which means that they will be the first students from the European Union to be formally assessed in chess in this academic year.

 

See complete story and more photos.

 

 

 

Photo - ECU

Leeds MP takes on primary school youngsters

11th October 2012

She’s used to thinking one step ahead in Parliament but Leeds MP Rachel Reeves swapped politics for pawns for the day.

 

The former junior chess champion tested her wits against youngsters from St Peter’s Primary School, in Bramley, during eight games of simultaneous chess.

 

Pupils at the school have been learning how to play the game since the start of term as part of an initiative to help boost their education.

 

The scheme is run by charity Chess in Schools and the Community which aims to teach youngsters about the game for one hour each week as part of the curriculum.

 

Full Yorkshire Evening Post report ...

 

 

Photo - Simon Hulme

CSC Teesside Report - September/October 2012

08.10.12 - The number of CSC Teesside schools has now increased to 11 and we are delighted to welcome on board our new coach, Richard Harris. Richard will be working alongside David Smith and myself as we continue to deliver the chess curriculum to hundreds of eager new chess players.

 

It has been a busy and very productive start to the term with our new schools - Errington, New Marske and Sacred Heart - all settling in very well indeed. The desire of the children to learn something new is truly inspirational.

 

We have already had one of the major events on our annual calendar, in the form of the 18th Yarm Team Championship. Approximately 100 children - arranged in teams of four - contested the Under-9 and Under-11 titles. Teams from tournament hosts Yarm School took the top places in the Under-11 section and Ings Farm B took the title of 'Best CSC School'.

 

The Under-9s saw a great success for CSC's Whale Hill. Their A team took the title and the B team came third; Yarm A had to be content with second place.

 

 

 

 

 

31.07.12 - IM Malcolm Pein, the CEO of the British charity Chess in Schools and Communities, received the Royal seal of approval earlier this week at St James’s Palace.

 

He was presented with the ‘highly commended’ award by HRH Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex during the Sport and Recreation Alliance's Community Sport and Recreation awards ceremony. Congratulations!