Chess resembles life

Boys’ chess group training to appear at upcoming tournament
By Caylor Ballinger FOR THE AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Saturday, May 01, 2010Story last updated at 5/1/2010 – 12:12 am

Every Thursday after school Eric Strong teaches a group of 18 fifth-grade boys at Parkway Elementary a new game they have all come to love, chess.

Strong, a chess player for over 25 years, said the boy’s organization is called the Panther Brigade, but he has nicknamed them the Knight Brigade because they took such an interest and started playing weekly. He said he wanted to teach the boys to play for a couple of reasons.

“Playing chess has a lot of strength to it,” Strong said. “It also helps develop strategic thinking.”

Strong said Susan Polgar, a professional chess player and Olympic medals recipient in chess, has created a chess movement in Lubbock. The Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence at Texas Tech has sponsored several chess tournaments, and the Knight Brigade is training to compete May 8 at the East Gate Invitation against seven other schools.

“I’m very excited about the growth of chess in Lubbock,” Polgar said. “In my eyes, it (chess) is a very important tool for students.”

Polgar, who is originally from Hungary, said she came to Lubbock when she received an opportunity from Tech for a chess program in her name. She said she wants to continue promoting chess in the schools.

“Chess resembles life,” Polgar said. “Because you are playing and learning life skills.”

Polgar said she plans to attend the East Gate Invitation in May and looks forward to see the younger students play chess.

“In the second week in May, we will take our best five players to Tech, where they will compete in a Susan Polgar chess tournament,” Strong said. “They will be able to play and compete with other children from other schools.”

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