Macarthur schools compete at Junior Chess League tournament

Macarthur schools compete at Junior Chess League tournament
13 Nov 09 @ 12:10pm by Oliver Murray

CAMDEN Public School and St Peters Anglican Primary School will compete at the state finals of the NSW Junior Chess League’s primary schools tournament later this month.

The two Macarthur schools tied for third at a one-day tournament at Campbelltown Catholic Club on Thursday.

More than 150 primary school children from southwestern Sydney pitted their strategic skills against one another at the annual event.

A total of 54 teams of three players, representing seven Macarthur area schools, played eight games over five hours to determine the region’s best chess-playing school.

Players from Prestons’ St Catherine’s proved they had the best chess brains in the district, while Moorebank’s St Joseph’s Public were second.

Camden Public and St Peters finished equal third to also progress to the metropolitan and state finals on November 29 in Lidcombe.

Tournament director Richard Gastineau-Hills said chess helped young children’s cognitive skills.

“There has been a lot of research into the educational benefits of playing chess from a young age,” he said.

“It also teaches them to follow rules and how to lose gracefully.”

Source: http://macarthur-chronicle-camden.whereilive.com.au