Checkmate for change
Date : 20 May 2007
Producer : Carol Albertyn Christie
Presenter : Bongani Bingwa, Derek Watts
It is a game of power, of attack and retreat; a game of strategy and common sense. The soldiers in the frontline protect the king and the queen. The clergy lend a supporting hand with the knights to protect the stronghold of the realm. This is the game of chess.
David MacEnulty (Chess teacher): “It’s a little microcosm of the real world. Benjamin Franklin said chess is like life. Bobby Fischer came along and said chess is life.”
And life is hard in the South Bronx in New York. With no formal teacher training, this is where David MacEnulty started teaching chess at the age of 46.
Bongani Bingwa (Carte Blanche presenter): “How did you get started in the South Bronx?”
David: “Complete accident. I was working in real estate. A friend of mine who is a chess teacher asked me to substitute for him once for a class. I said to him you are crazy, you guys are all masters. I play chess … you guys are masters. He said you know more than the kids do … I am desperate please help me.”
David’s remarkable influence on the children’s lives by teaching them chess inspired a movie called ‘Knights of the South Bronx’, starring Ted Danson.
Here is the full story.
It is great to see David visiting South Africa. Just recently WGM Jen Shahade also visited South Africa to speak to the children there about chess. With these two visits from two important chess figures South Africa is really making some big strides for scholastic chess.
Susan, have you ever played a tournament in South Africa or visited there? Can you tell us about the state of chess there?
Susan, thanx again! I saw this movie and read it was based on a true story. Very inspirational and touching, but for me personal too. I grew up in the South Bronx and firsthand know and saw how hard life is there for a kid growing up. I was one of a few out of thousands in my neighborhood who graduated from Brooklyn Tech, earned a college degree and got out of the getto. Back then, I was about the only kid playing chess.
This is a great article. Its so inspirational !! I just have to try utilizing chess in my young adult library. Even if I am going to buy the chess sets out of my own pocket.
Thank you very much for disseminating this article and giving us, the chess community, a big push in the right direction.
AB