Councilman Andy King (D–Baychester) gave awards to several kids at a chess tournament at MS 390 last Saturday.
At the Chess in Schools’ Fernando Cabrera Chess Challenge on Dec. 8, the politician presented more than a dozen winners and teams of the challenge with medals and trophies.
The tournament is part of the Chess In Schools initiative, which brings the game of chess into schools across the city, to reach the children often underserved by how-to workshops geared towards the strategy game. But with the program, educators and children are exposed to the chess board and learn how to play it. The centuries old game requires problem solving skills and patience that these children will use in their day-to-day lives, said the councilman.
“Thanks to chess, these youngsters have become critical thinkers,” said King. “The game pushes them to make decisions on how to be one up on their opponent, protect their queen, plan strategic moves and go for the king. Much like life itself, you have to plan, protect your home, work with others and pursue your goals.”
At the tournament, some teachers were given a crash course on learning how to apply chess into their teaching, and the best ways to show their students how to play chess through the Chess In Schools Teacher Training Institute.
King said as a strong advocate of the program, he was thrilled to see how much the program has grown.
“I want to commend the winners of the Chess in Schools’ Fernando Cabrera Chess Challenge and participants of the CIS Teacher Training Institute,” he said. “I am proud to have fought for the expansion of this important program in the City Council.”
