Game of chess teaches kids problem-solving, patience and creativity skills
On 'Fox & Friends Weekend,' Mark Kurtzman of Tri-State Chess touted the benefits of chess for kids
By Maureen Mackey | Fox News
UCF Life Master Mark Kurtzman and four-time national chess champion Adam Maltese share their love for the game of chess and ways kids can get involved with the classic game.
Speaking this morning on "Fox & Friends Weekend," two accomplished chess players shared their enthusiasm for the game of chess — and noted the many ways that kids today can get involved in the game and gain a host of benefits from learning and playing chess.
"Chess is just so much fun," said Mark Kurtzman, a United States Chess Federation (UCF) life master, on the program on Sunday morning.
He added that when he was growing up, there weren't many programs and offerings for kids as there are now in so many communities across the country.
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"Now there's so much structure around it. There are programs [for kids] and places to learn … Kids love it and it's so much fun."
Adam Maltese, a four-time national chess champion, spoke about the first time he won a multi-round chess tournament when he was just nine years old.
This giant chess set is perfect for an outdoor living space — and can work for adults or kids. (Donald Mensch)
"It's gotten a little bit tougher since I've been a kid," he said, commenting on the computerization of chess games today.
So what is the number-one tip for novice players?
"Think before you move," said Kurtzman.
Problem-solving skills, patience, creativity and consequences for one's actions are some of the many benefits of learning to play chess.
He noted that there are many skills that kids learn from the game of chess — including problem-solving skills, patience, creativity and consequences for one's actions.
Chess is a game of strategy and tactics that anyone of almost any age can learn to play. (iStock)
Players were deeply involved in their chess games on Fox Square this morning as the chess masters evaluated some of the matches.
Some of the children were as young as five as they played chess.
Kurtzman commented on the kids that he teaches today — "We get 250 players," he said, who are rated by the chess foundation.
"Students enjoy themselves while learning to become mature and well-respected chess players."
He also said there are chess camps available to kids, too.
"The players are developing their pieces … preparing for the battle," noted Kurtzman of a game that had just begun.
This young person learned how to play chess when he was four years old. (Kori McConnell)
Kurtzman runs Tri State Chess (tristatechess.com), an organization based in New York City and in operation for over 30 years.
It is "devoted to establishing competitive chess programs in elementary schools throughout the Tri-State area," its website says.
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"In order to maintain the highest possible standards," the group adds, "experienced chess coaches are personally trained by our professional staff."
It also said, "All coaches are instructed to implement an established teaching system, proven effective through years of use."
"In this way, students enjoy themselves while learning to become mature and well-respected chess players."
To learn more about chess and its benefits, watch the video Student chess players face off at Fox Square
The world chess federation FIDE has chosen to continue with Russian Arkady Dvorkovich as the head of the organization. This despite the international sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Putin likes to be seen with prominent chess players, including Dvorkovich (far left) in 2014
In the world of chess, everything is apparently still in perfect order. While there are sanctions in place against Russia and Belarus in the sport, they only apply to the players. At the FIDE Congress in Chennai, India, on August 7, the incumbent president Arkady Dvorkovich was re-elected.
Until 2018, Dvorkovich was Russia's deputy prime minister and chairman of the board of the (wartime essential) Russian Railways. Since then, he has been the head of the World Chess Federation, and will remain in the post for another four years.
Among chess officials, there's a pretense that President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine does not exist — a politically and morally bankrupt declaration. Dvorkovich's opponent could not even achieve respectable success: The Ukrainian chess grandmaster Andrii Baryshpolets received just 16 of the 173 votes. The German Chess Federation — as announced two months ago — supported the defeated Ukrainian.
Arkady Dvorkovich has been re-elected as the president of FIDE
Chess is also politics in Russia
Sports federations like to claim they are apolitical. This has never been true for chess, particularly not in Russia. Chess is much more than just a niche sport for nerds. Putin, a chess enthusiast, always likes to be seen with prominent chess players, although Dvorkovich has tried to distance himself a bit publicly from the Russian war of aggression.
But the bottom line is that the signal sent by chess is fatal: once again, Russia's overwhelming influence in the sport has not been contained. On the contrary, despite global sanctions, Russia has managed to keep one of its own at the helm of an international sports federation. For Putin, that's cause for celebration.
Sure, Dvorkovich had a comparatively good record. After decades in which FIDE had been marked by chaos and corruption, he had brought professionalism and (mostly Russian) sponsorship to the notoriously cash-strapped sport. He also had the smart idea of choosing the universally esteemed former world champion Viswanathan Anand as his deputy, as a representative of the up-and-coming chess nation India.
Magnus Carlsen does not intend to defend his world title
FIDE on the sidelines?
But it's doubtful that FIDE under Dvorkovich can simply carry on as before. Western sponsors have deserted the sport and Dvorkovich himself may soon appear on international sanctions list. "If that happens, it's over," even Putin-affiliated former world champion Anatoly Karpov speculated before Dvorkovich's re-election.
It is all a disaster for chess. After all, the board game is actually booming. In the COVID era, the sport has partly shifted online. Chess has long since ceased to revolve around the somewhat cumbersome official world championships.
The still reigning champion, Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, has recognized the signs of the times. The 31-year-old does not intend to defend his title for the time being, but the world's best chess player by far will continue to play the game — on his own. He brings money into the sport with his listed Play Magnus Group.
A world chess federation that stands closely alongside the economically and politically isolated Russia will find it difficult to keep up. Other major chess federations — like Germany's — will distance themselves even more. It is quite possible that game has checkmated itself.
But it's doubtful that FIDE under Dvorkovich can simply carry on as before. Western sponsors have deserted the sport and Dvorkovich himself may soon appear on international sanctions list. "If that happens, it's over," even Putin-affiliated former world champion Anatoly Karpov speculated before Dvorkovich's re-election.
It is all a disaster for chess. After all, the board game is actually booming. In the COVID era, the sport has partly shifted online. Chess has long since ceased to revolve around the somewhat cumbersome official world championships.
The still reigning champion, Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, has recognized the signs of the times. The 31-year-old does not intend to defend his title for the time being, but the world's best chess player by far will continue to play the game — on his own. He brings money into the sport with his listed Play Magnus Group.
A world chess federation that stands closely alongside the economically and politically isolated Russia will find it difficult to keep up. Other major chess federations — like Germany's — will distance themselves even more. It is quite possible that game has checkmated itself.
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Pastime of the stars
American Western actor John Wayne (right) was an enthusiastic chess player. German film diva Marlene Dietrich (left) is said to have always traveled with a huge chess board. The board game was particularly popular among Hollywood stars in the 1930s to 1950s. Dietrich and Wayne are pictured here in 1942 on the set of the film "Pittsburgh."
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This article was translated from German.
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