Kids make winning moves — Club set to roll out chess tournament
By Alison Bergsieker • DAILY PRESS & ARGUS • October 6, 2008
When 10-year-old Andrew O’Doherty began challenging his peers to chess matches, he knew exactly how to win.
Using a four-move sequence called “Scholar’s Mate,” hewas able to easily corner his opponents.
“You’d have to be a fool to fall for it,” Andrew said. “I probably won the first 20 games, but then I taught people how to block it, and I haven’t won many games since.”
Since age 4, Andrew has been active in playing chess, so active that his parents, Lori and Kevin O’Doherty, volunteered to start a chess club four years ago at his school, Charyl Stockwell Academy in Hartland Township. The academy is a tuition-free public charter school for grades K-8.
So the craze started — the club has grown to 39 students ranging from first to eighth grade who meet once a week for eight weeks, and they’re inviting the public to join them in their inaugural Open Scholastic Chess Tournament Nov. 8 at the school.
The tournament, open to 80 participants in grades K-8, is possibly the first of its kind in Livingston County.
“It’s really amazing to me, in this time of video games, how much enthusiasm these kids have for chess,” said Haika Gay, CSA academic enrichment facilitator.
CSA student Spencer Marshall, 11, joined the chess club this year, and said he’s now able to think more quickly and to strategize.
“We play, and I just get better every time,” Spencer said. “Now I play chess more than I play video games.”
After the club became established, Kevin O’Doherty said he noticed students were outgrowing his skill level, although he often played at home on the Internet as a hobby.
“Some of the kids got beyond my level,” Kevin said. “They can think ahead five moves from where they are. We needed somebody that knows chess. There are a lot of gifted kids here, and it takes more than average to keep up with them.”
Here is the full article.
chess is good for kids.