PDS hosts Saturday chess tournaments; welcomes players of all levels
Saturday, October 04, 2008

PRINCETON TOWNSHIP — Princeton Day School will launch its monthly scholastic chess tournaments Oct. 11 with on-site registration from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and first-round play at 1 p.m.

At PDS, chess is taught in kindergarten and first grade to help pupils develop problem-solving skills, anticipate consequences and have the flexibility to change their plans. The students learn algebraic notation, practice tactics and checkmates, and play games with supervision. PDS students also compete in state and national scholastic chess championships and are currently the New Jersey Primary Chess Championship Team.

“Chess empowers the child to tackle all kinds of wonderful learning and discovery,” said Bonnie Waitzkin, who leads the PDS chess program and whose son Josh is an international chess master and subject of the 1993 film “Searching for Bobby Fischer” and author of “The Art of Learning.” published in 2007.

The PDS Saturday Tournaments, designed to welcome the most novice of tournament players and to inspire the most accomplished, are open to students K-12 beyond the PDS campus and routinely attract more than 100 students from New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Nine sections are offered, ranging from “No Score” (K-1) to “Future Masters” (K-12, over 1200). Plaques are awarded to the top five players and the top three teams in each section. Teams must consist of at least two players from the same school. Registration fee for preregistered players is $30; on-site registration fee is $40. Entry fees for the Greater Princeton Championship in December are $35 and $45. Round times will be accelerated when possible and awards will be presented as soon as a section is finished to minimize wait time.

PDS Chess Tournament dates are Oct. 11, Nov. 8, Dec. 6 (Greater Princeton Championship), Jan. 10, Feb. 7, March 14, April 18 and May 9.

For more information, visit (pds.org/chess) or contact Waitzkin at Chessteach@gmail.com

Source: http://www.nj.com

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