Teaching kids to make right move
Cait Bester 2nd June 2009
IN the silence of the Slade Point Community Hall 83 pairs of eyes were intensely fixed on green chequered boards, anticipating the next move.
Primary and secondary students from the Mackay district, some as far away as Bloomsbury, Oakenden and Sarina, gathered yesterday for round two of the Mackay Whitsunday Interschool Chess Championships.
One of those sets of eyes fixed on the chequered board was Mirani State High School Year 9 student Matt Grant, who claims chess is not in the nerds’ sport category but a fun game that can be played through sunshine, hail, rain – played anywhere or any how.
“Some people say chess is a nerd’s game but it’s not a nerd’s game, you just have to know how to play the game.
“It’s a game that can be played on a rainy or sunny day or at the beach or on the lounge room floor,” he said.
The 13-year-old said he fell in love with the game after being introduced to it by his Year 3 friends.
“I started playing with some mates in grade three and I have been playing it ever since.
“I spend a lot of time at home practising on my brother but I practise during our lunch break with my team mates at school.
“I love to win and I love coming to these tournaments.
“They are fun but I also try to win to get our ratings higher. So far today (yesterday) we have won three out of four games.”
Here is the full article.
Very cool. Glad they enjoy it.