By Chineu Asadu and John Minchillo, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) A Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate played chess nonstop for 60 hours in New York Citys Times Square to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.

Tunde Onakoya, 29, hopes to raise $1 million for childrens education across Africa through the record attempt that began on April 17.

He had set out to play the royal game for 58 hours but continued until he reached 60 hours at about 12:40 a.m. April 20, surpassing the current chess marathon record of 56 hours, 9 minutes and 37 seconds, achieved in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flateb and Sjur Ferkingstad.

The Guinness World Record organization has yet to publicly comment about Onakoyas attempt. It sometimes takes weeks for the organization to confirm any new record.

Onakoya played against Shawn Martinez, an American chess champion, in line with Guinness World Record guidelines that any attempt to break the record must be made by two players who would play continuously for the entire duration.

Support had been growing online and at the scene, where a blend of African music kept onlookers and supporters entertained amid cheers and applause. Among the dozens who cheered Onakoya on at the scene was Nigerian music star Davido.

The record attempt is for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education, said Onakoya, who founded Chess in Slums Africa in 2018. The organization wants to support the education of at least 1 million children in slums across the continent.

My energy is at 100 percent right now because my people are here supporting me with music, Onakoya said later April 18 after the players crossed the 24-hour mark.

On Onakoyas menu: Lots of water and jollof rice, one of West Africas best-known dishes.

For every hour of game played, Onakoya and his opponent got only five minutes break. The breaks were sometimes grouped together, and Onakoya used them to catch up with Nigerians and New Yorkers cheering him on. He even joined in with their dancing sometimes.

A total of $22,000 was raised within the first 20 hours of the attempt, said Taiwo Adeyemi, Onakoyas manager.

The support has been overwhelming from Nigerians in the U.S., global leaders, celebrities and hundreds of passersby, he said.

Onakoyas attempt was closely followed in Nigeria, where he regularly organizes chess competitions for young people living on the streets.

More than 10 million school-age children are not in school in the West African country one of the worlds highest rates.

Among those who have publicly supported him are celebrities and public office holders, including Nigerias former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who wrote to Onakoya on the social media platform X, Remember your own powerful words: It is possible to do great things from a small place.'

This version corrects that Osinbajo is Nigerias former vice president, not current vice president.

Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria.

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Nigerian chess champion breaks Guinness World Record in New York - Afro American Newspaper

Paul Morphy, a name synonymous with chess brilliance, stands as one of the most enigmatic and celebrated figures in the history of the game. Born on June 22, 1837, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Morphy's meteoric rise to prominence and his unparalleled mastery of chess continue to fascinate enthusiasts and scholars alike. His legacy, shrouded in mystery and admiration, transcends mere chess mastery; it embodies the essence of genius and the timeless allure of intellectual pursuit.At his game.

Early Years: A Prodigy in the Making

From an early age, Morphy exhibited an extraordinary aptitude for chess. Legend has it that at the tender age of nine, he defeated his father, Alonzo Morphy, a distinguished lawyer, in a game. Recognizing his son's remarkable talent, Alonzo enlisted the guidance of renowned chess masters to hone Paul's skills further. Under their tutelage, Morphy's understanding of the game flourished, and his tactical prowess became increasingly apparent.A wonder even at a young age.

The Triumph of Genius: Morphy's Chess Ascendancy

Morphy's breakthrough came in 1857 when he participated in the First American Chess Congress in New York. Despite his young age and limited experience in formal competition, Morphy's brilliance shone through as he swept aside seasoned opponents with ease. His remarkable performance earned him widespread acclaim and established him as a force to be reckoned with in the world of chess.

The pinnacle of Morphy's career came during his tour of Europe in 1858-1859. In a series of dazzling displays, he faced and conquered the foremost chess players of the era, including Adolf Anderssen and Johann Lwenthal. Morphy's style was marked by bold, sacrificial play and flawless execution, earning him the admiration of both peers and spectators. His dominance was unparalleled, and he was widely hailed as the unofficial world champion, despite the absence of an official title at the time.Would this person be able to win Paul Morphy at chess?

Legacy and Influence: Morphy's Enduring Impact

Morphy's retirement from competitive chess at the height of his powers remains one of the most enigmatic aspects of his life. After returning from Europe, he withdrew from the public eye and never again participated in formal tournaments. Despite numerous entreaties from admirers and the chess community, Morphy chose to pursue a career in law rather than continue his chess exploits.

Nevertheless, Morphy's legacy endures as a testament to his unparalleled genius and his profound impact on the development of chess theory. His games continue to be studied and analyzed by generations of players, serving as a source of inspiration and instruction. Morphy's contributions to the game laid the groundwork for future champions, shaping the evolution of chess strategy and tactics.

The Enigma of Morphy: Myth and Reality

Throughout history, Morphy has been the subject of speculation and myth, with numerous anecdotes and legends surrounding his life and legacy. Tales of his eccentricities and reclusive nature abound, further adding to the mystique surrounding his persona. Despite the efforts of historians and biographers, much of Morphy's private life remains shrouded in mystery, leaving ample room for conjecture and interpretation.

Yet, amidst the myth and speculation, one undeniable truth remains: Paul Morphy's impact on the world of chess is immeasurable. His legacy transcends the confines of the chessboard, serving as a testament to the boundless potential of the human mind and the enduring allure of intellectual pursuit. In Morphy, we find not merely a chess prodigy, but a symbol of genius and inspiration for generations to come.

Thank you for for reading,as always comments are much appreciated!

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Unraveling the Legend of Paul Morphy - Chess.com

Indian chess Grandmaster Gukesh D created history. The 17-year-old secured a win at the Candidates tournament after 14 rounds of matches that extended over three weeks. He now has the opportunity to contest for the World Championship. Gukesh has also become the youngest chess player with this distinction.

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Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the PM lauded Gukesh, calling his performance outstanding. India is exceptionally proud of @DGukesh on becoming the youngest-ever player to win the #FIDECandidates! Gukesh's remarkable achievement at the Candidates in Toronto showcases his extraordinary talent and dedication. His outstanding performance and journey to the top inspire millions read the post.

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He was born into a Telugu family in Chennai. His father, Rajinikanth, specializes as an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, while his mother, Padma, is a microbiologist. He has been playing chess since he was seven.

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( Originally published on Apr 22, 2024 )

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Who is Gukesh D? The youngest-ever contender for World Chess Championship has been playing the game from t - The Economic Times

D Gukesh won the 2024 Candidates Chess tournament in Toronto. Image: X/FIDE Chess

Legendary Grandmaster Garry Kasparov hailed D Gukesh for winning the Candidates Chess tournament and becoming the youngest world title contender. The 17-year-old Gukesh will take on Chinas Ding Liren in the world title match in November. The previous youngest winner of the Candidates Chess tournament was Kasparov himself who was 20 years and 11 months when he triumphed in 1983/84.

Gukesh played out a draw in the 14th and final round of the competition with Hikaru Nakamura to finish with nine points out of a possible 14. His nearest competitors, Nakamura, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Fabiano Caruana, all finished 0.5 points adrift.

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Read | D Gukesh makes Magnus Carlsen eat his words

Reacting to Gukeshs historic achievement, Russias Kasparov called it an Indian earthquake in Toronto and a sign of shift in power dynamics in world chess.

Congratulations! The Indian earthquake in Toronto is the culmination of the shifting tectonic plates in the chess world as the 17-year-old Gukesh D will face the Chinese champion Ding Liren for the highest title, the legendary player who held the No.1 ranking from 1984 till he retired from competitive chess in 2005," he wrote on X.

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Kasparov also credited Viswanathan Anand, the only other Indian to win the Candidates Chess tournament, for Gukeshs success. The children of Vishy Anand are on the loose! he said.

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Congratulations to @DGukesh for becoming the youngest challenger. The @WacaChess family is so proud of what you have done. Im personally very proud of how you played and handled tough situations. Enjoy the moment, Anand posted on X to congratulate the youngster.

Gukesh, a Chennai-native, pocketed 111,000 for his Candidates Chess tournament win . He, fittingly, received a massive ovation outside the venue on his win.

So relieved and so happy. I was following this crazy game (between Fabio Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi), and then I went for a walk with my second (Gregorz Gazevsky), I think that helped, Gukesh said after winning.

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Gukesh was inspired into taking up the sport when Anand took on Magnus Carlsen in the 2013 World Championship clash in Tamil Nadu.

While he was seven years old, he began playing the sport by seeing some family members play. The same year, he saw the World Championship contest between Vishwanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, and it was then that he became inspired by Vishi to take up the sport, said his mother.

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'Indian earthquake in Toronto': Garry Kasparov after D Gukesh breaks his Candidates Chess record - Firstpost

Gukesh D, 17, scripted history by becoming the youngest-ever player to win the FIDE Candidates tournament in Toronto. He also became the youngest World Championship challenger and the only Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the tournament. Amid several congratulatory posts for Gukesh on social media, a video of the chess sensation speaking about becoming the youngest world chess champion has emerged online.

In the viral video, Gukesh says he wants to become the youngest world chess champion. The interviewer then addresses Gukesh as the next big thing to watch out for in Indian chess. As the video progresses, Gukesh can be seen surrounded by fans and signing autographs.

Watch the viral video here:

The video was shared on April 22 and accumulated over 1,70,000 views and several social media reactions. With current ding form and gukesh form its easy for gukesh hope same form continues, a user wrote. Prime example of you become what you think, another user commented.

Yo, Gukesh is straight fire! Cant wait to see him dominate in 2024! GukeshFTW candidates2024, the third user reacted.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Gukesh D for his remarkable achievement. Taking it to X, PM Modi wrote, India is exceptionally proud of @DGukesh on becoming the youngest-ever player to win the #FIDECandidates! Gukeshs remarkable achievement at the Candidates in Toronto showcases his extraordinary talent and dedication. His outstanding performance and journey to the top inspires millions.

Take a look here:

Former world champion Magnus Carlsen, who was asked to assess the eight-player field in the open section, had said he could not imagine Gukesh winning the Candidates. I can see him being anywhere from +2 to -5 (at the end of the tournament). I think he will certainly win at least a couple of games, but will have some fairly bad losses as well. I dont think he will do poorly, but I dont think he will do too well either. Hes not quite ready yet to make the leap. Its more likely that he has a bad event, he had said.

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First uploaded on: 23-04-2024 at 11:05 IST

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Watch: Chess sensation Gukesh Ds old video on becoming worlds youngest chess champion surfaces - The Indian Express

Sunday 21 April 2024 02:25, UK

A campaigning Nigerian chess champion has played the game non-stop for 60 hours to break the world record.

Tunde Onakoya, 29, hopes to raise $1m (800,000) for children's education across Africa through the marathon attempt that began in New York City's Times Square on Wednesday.

He crossed the 58-hour mark in the early hours of Saturday, beating the current record of 56 hours, nine minutes and 37 seconds, set in 2018 by Norwegian pair Hallvard Haug Flatebo and Sjur Ferkingstad.

The Guinness World Record has yet to publicly comment about Mr Onakoya's bid.

It sometimes takes weeks for the organisation to confirm any new record.

Mr Onakoya played against Shawn Martinez, a US chess champion, in line with guidelines that any record attempt must be made by two players playing continuously for the entire duration.

Support had been growing online and at the scene, where African music kept spectators entertained.

The record attempt is "for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education," said Mr Onakoya, who founded Chess in Slums Africa in 2018.

The charity aims to support the education of at least one million of the continent's poorest children.

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After hitting the 24-hour mark, Mr Onakoya said: "My energy is at 100% right now because my people are here supporting me with music."

Read more on Sky News: Bitcoin's highly anticipated 'halving' event takes place Gamers compete in first professional women's tournament

Keeping him going was lots of water and the popular West African dish jollof rice.

For every hour of game played, Mr Onakoya and his opponent got only five minutes break.

Sometimes they were grouped together, allowing Mr Onakoya to meet his cheering well-wishers and even join in with their dancing.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Taiwo Adeyemi, Mr Onakoya's manager, said: "The support has been overwhelming from Nigerians in the US, global leaders, celebrities and hundreds of passers-by."

His record attempt was closely followed in Nigeria, where he regularly organises chess competitions for young people living on the streets.

This is a limited version of the story so unfortunately this content is not available. Open the full version

More than 10 million children are not in school in the West African country - one of the world's highest rates.

Among those to lend their backing was Nigeria's former vice president Yemi Osinbajo, who in a message to Mr Onakoya on the social media platform X said: "Remember your own powerful words 'It is possible to do great things from a small place'."

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Chess champion plays for marathon 6 hours to break record - and raise cash for child education - Sky News

Top-grade grooming to play chess with great mental and physical strength and maturity mixed with fighting spiritequipped with this ammunition, D Gukesh created a cerebral firepower on the 64-square board. In the process, he did something incredible. Gukeshs achievement is unbelievable considering his age (just 17) and lack of relative experience in playing elite round-robin tournaments. Having his own style, hunger, calculating ability and tactics, Gukesh had the credentials. But even the chess pundits were not ready for a script of him getting the big reward. It took India more than 30 years to unearth the second man for the World Championship Candidates cycle (Anand was the first in 1991). Anand needed four years to graduate from Candidate to Challenger. Gukesh has done it in his debut attempt and within four months. Anands role in this journey is crucial. Westbridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA) took Gukesh under its wings at the right time and Anands former second, GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland (age 38), travels with him. Yes, India organised a last-minute Fide circuit tournament in Chennai last year to help Gukesh qualify for the Candidates he had failed to make the cut from other paths. Even China had organised tournaments for Ding Liren so that he got to play enough games to make the cut in the last Candidates cycle. Then, Frances Alireza Firouzja played some "arranged" games to increase his rating to make the cut this time.

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Fire & ice: India chess star Gukesh oozes class beyond his years - The Times of India

After 13 exciting rounds, the Candidates chess tournament reaches its climax today when the final round is played. The open section is a four-horse race between a teenager from India (17-year-old D Gukesh), two men from USA (World No 2 Fabiano Caruana and World No 3 Hikaru Nakamura) and one Russian (two-time Candidates winner Ian Nepomniachtchi).

To follow our live blog of the final round of the Candidates chess tournament, click here > Candidates chess Round 14 live

But the final round is expected to see plenty of drama, because Gukesh is facing Nakamura while Caruana takes on Nepomniachtchi in the 14th round.

Heading into Round 14, Gukesh has 8.5 points while Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi and Caruana are all on eight points.

Heres a breakdown of all the scenarios:

IF Gukesh emerges as the winner of the Candidates tournament, he will face the reigning world champion Ding Liren with the crown on the line. That battle is expected to happen next year.

If Gukesh beats Nakamura in the last round to be played on Sunday, then irrespective of the outcome of the Nepomniachtchi-Caruana match he goes on to challenge Chinas Ding Liren for the World Chess Championship in the coming cycle.

If Gukesh draws, he will learn his fate from the outcome of the Nepomniachtchi vs Caruana match. If that one too is a draw, then the Indian sails through; if there is a result, the winner plays Gukesh in a 2-match tiebreaker with tighter time controls.

Chess Candidates 2024 Live Updates: Gukesh takes on Hikaru Nakamura with history on line

If Gukesh loses, then he is out of contention even if the matter goes into tiebreaks, since Nakamura will have half a point more than him. In this scenario, Nakamura moves to the head of the table. If the Nepomniachtchi-Caruana match is a draw, Nakamurama gets to take on Ding Liren for the world chess crown. If it has a decisive result in either players favour, the winner plays Nakamura in the tiebreaker stage with tighter time controls.

If Gukesh is tied for first place after 14 rounds, a play-off to determine the winner shall be played. The play-off may consist of up to three stages. Considering the way the four players are placed, and the fact that theyre all facing each other, its only possible that two players can end up tied at the top of the standings, not more than two.

In Stage I, after a drawing for colours made on the day of Round 14, the two players tied shall play a match of two games with a time control of 15 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

IF the two games cannot decide a winner, the contest proceeds to even faster time controls in Stage II of the tiebreakers. After a drawing for colours, a match of two games shall be played with a time control of 3 minutes for each player + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

IF there is still no winner after this, the contest proceeds to Stage III, where every game will be a knockout game played with a time control of 3 minutes for each player + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1. The colours for the game shall be determined by a drawing of lots.

Gukesh can avoid this tricky path by simply defeating Nakamura.

Read more:

Candidates 2024: With Gukesh holding edge, breaking down all likely scenarios for Round 14, including tiebreakers - The Indian Express

So Dommaraju Gukesh has done it. At 17, and on debut, he's won the FIDE Candidates 2024, and he's done it in style. You can read more about that here, and here, but now let's get straight to the prize for pulling off that epic win: a shot at being World Champion.

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Of course, it's way too early for any kind of preview -- what with neither the date (though it should be later this year) nor the venue even being set -- but if fear of the unknown didn't stop Gukesh from creating history, we can't let it stop us writing this preview, either.

China's Ding Liren. And how he became it is quite some tale.

He wasn't even supposed to participate in the 2022 Candidates, but a ban for Russian GM Sergey Karjakin meant he was in. He finished second, behind Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Then Magnus Carlsen decided to, well, not defend his title. That set up a unique championship match: where whoever won would be crowned world champion for the first time.

He struggled early on against Nepomniachtchi, but as detailed here, stayed the course, put the pressure back on his opponent and eventually came up victor. It was one of the most unlikely of triumphs.

So much! And these stats highlight it best:

At 17, Gukesh is the youngest to challenge for the world title.

If he wins, he can become the youngest world champion ever.

This will be the first-ever men's world championship title clash that will not feature a European player.

At this level of elite chess, everyone's played everyone at some point. Most recently, Ding played Gukesh at the Tata Steel Masters on Jan 15, this year, and it was a demolition. Gukesh sacrificed a pawn early, attacking the queen side, but Ding saw through the strategy and took him on. He dangled a pawn, which Gukesh initially ignored, but eventually took -- and from there it was game over as Ding used his decisive attacking to take complete positional superiority.

But here's a fun fact: Gukesh's win at the Candidates not only made him India's no. 1 (again), but he's now gone one point past Ding in the ratings. Gukesh is right now the higher rated of the two!

As per chess.com, this is what Ding said after Gukesh's Candidates win: "He has a maturity that doesn't match his age, he has his own unique understanding of the position, and although I have the advantage in classical chess, he is a difficult opponent to face."

Love the "I have the advantage in classical chess." Just the world champ reminding everyone who the man is, that's he's 'got this'.

Probably. Ding is a superb player whose ability to handle intense pressure was proven at the biggest stage of them all. But now, so has Gukesh.

Rank outsider in Canada, Gukesh exhibited a fearlessness that shook many of his opponents. He held no regard for traditional conservatism, going for the win whenever he could. He did not back down when put under the cosh, counterattacking in the belief that he was good enough to do exactly that.

What makes this match even harder to predict is the similarity in the demeanour of both players: calm, composed... you could even say, cold.

In the World Championship match in 2022, where you could see Nepomniachtchi visibly crumble, you could also see Ding just sitting there, expressionless intensity oozing out of him, just waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

Gukesh is similar -- just witness that tense last round match against Hikaru Nakamura. While Nakamura and the other two contenders (Nepomniachtchi and Fabiano Caruana) were gesturing wildly, their posture making evident the state of their games, Gukesh just sat there, did his thing and drew. Which saw him win the whole thing.

This one is genuinely impossible to guess, and we aren't going to be brave enough to hazard a guess.

With months to prepare, both Gukesh and Ding will be hunkering down and going into all-out preparation-mode. In the end it'll be a battle of Ding's experience vs Gukesh's willingness to push the boundary. Oh... and a battle to see which of the two coldest facades in today's chess world cracks first.

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D Gukesh vs Ding Liren: A way-too-early preview for the World Chess Championship - ESPN India

By James Evans Eight schools participated in the inaugural Rutherford County chess tournament event Saturday, April 20 at the Patterson Park Community Center

Ethan Harrelson of Riverdale won all five games and the overall championship in Saturdays inaugural Contest of High School Chess Champions. Xavier Sztapka (Rutherford County Virtual School) and Ben Chen (Central Magnet School) finished second and third place, respectively.

Other competitors included Aiden Mauldin (Stewarts Creek), Darren Keoni (LaVergne), Atticus Hiott (Smyrna), Youssef Mekhail (Blackman), and Kenneth Lugo (Oakland).

The event was spearheaded by Rutherford County property assessor Rob Mitchell, who formed a partnership with Rutherford County Schools to provide chess materials to each high school in preparation for the championship.

Mitchell envisions a day when high school students throughout Rutherford County are fluent in the language of chess. He believes a county-wide integrated program will help reduce the need for remedial classes, will help students with their critical-thinking skills, and above all else, prepare them to be problem-solvers for life.

For a little more than a year, Mitchell has been talking to anyone who will listen, to raise money for this grassroots project. His efforts have caught the attention of many, including the state legislature, which invited Mitchell to the state capital to discuss the potential program.

Mitchell participated in an interview with Rutherford County Schools recently to discuss his vision, its origin and his ultimate goal.

QUESTION: You are obviously passionate about chess, tell me why.

Mitchell: I started playing chess my earliest recollection is playing when I was about five or six years old, watching my dad and a good friend of his play chess. So my best friend at the time who is my dads best friends son we picked up and started playing.

As I moved around the country my dad was in retail, and wed moved to a different city chess was always something that I could use, and I did use to kind of fit in with other kids and have something to talk about. Id ask if they played chess and if they didnt, I would teach them how to play. So that was kind of a way of me establishing a rapport as a kid with kids that I didnt know who were from different backgrounds and from all different parts of the country.

I kind of carried chess with me through high school and then through college I played chess in the Rec room over at MTSU and met people that way in between classes.

And then I kind of set it down for a little bit until I started having kids and my kids started going to school. I arranged to have some chess sets sent to Walter Hill (Elementary) when Butch Campbell was principal. And some of the kids picked up and played chess there. Then with Mr. Delbridge over at Siegel Middle School. I had some chess sets ordered up over there, and we had a little chess club on Thursday afternoons that we would meet over in one of the math classrooms and that the kids would play.

Then my kids got into band, and they didnt want to do chess anymore, so I became a band dad at that point.

QUESTION: I know for at least the past year, youve been talking to our School Board members and our director of schools about wanting to expand and do something more. Where did this most recent push come from?

My wife and I were watching a movie on Netflix called Critical Thinking. We started watching it, and its a true story about a chess club, actually it was a class, in a high school in the worst part of town in Miami, Florida.

The story is how this teacher, who is passionate about teaching children that they could think their way to a better place in life, how it was his passion for (chess) and the children understanding the benefits of it.

These kids, many of them, couldnt even speak English at the time, went and won a national championship in chess. Its the first time that it ever happened in an inner city school, especially in Miami.

After my wife and I watched the movie we turned off Netflix and went back to the news and there was something about some kids involved in trouble up in Nashville, and she just looked over at me and said, Somebody needs to do that here. (referring to the chess program).

QUESTION: Youve told me you then reached out to the executive producer of the chess movie for more information and then started looking for sponsors.

I went to Twitter checking the news, and Marcus Lemonis, who is the CEO of Camping World, has his own nonprofit. Its called Lemon-Aide, and he posted a picture of a blank check and said, If I gave you this, what would you do with it?

And I just responded, I would create a critical-thinking and conflict-resolution (chess) program for at-risk children in schools, in Rutherford County schools.

I didnt think that much more about it. And then about four or five days later, I woke up on Saturday morning and opened my computer. My Twitter feed had just exploded.

I thought, what in the world is this, nobody ever pays any attention to anything that I say. I started going through the trail of things and at the very end of it is Marcus Lemonis saying, Im giving you $5,000 for this program. Thats when I knew that we were onto something.

So we got the $5,000 and we invited local politicians and community leaders to a chess event in the mid-summer. Two of the school board members, Claire Maxwell and Caleb Tidwell, were there, and we had a couple of county commissioners who showed up, and Dr. Michael McDonald, whos on the Juvenile Oversight Board for the county, were all there. We had a very successful event, and we raised another five or six hundred, maybe a thousand dollars.

We gifted the money to Rutherford County Schools to purchase the equipment necessary to get this program off the ground.

QUESTION: Branded chess sets and materials have now been delivered to all the schools. Whats your short-term and long-term goal for this initiative?

Well, the short-term goal would be to bring it to the forefront of kids understanding that this is something that anybody can do and that theres benefits to it long-lasting benefits. I want to give all the kids an opportunity to play if theyre so inclined.

The second step is there is a program thats put out by FIDE, which is the International Chess Federation, that gives teachers the ability to integrate chess into their current curriculum and lesson plans. That is something that theyre rolling out in Pakistan and therell be six million students going through this program within the next year or so. Its being done in the state of Alabama. Its being done currently in New Hampshire.

So I would like to have the opportunity to bring that to Rutherford County. I have reached out to the governors office and reached out to members of our legislative delegation to keep it on the governors highlight list.

If we get it, and its successful, (Gov. Lee) would also like to extend that offer to Shelby County so that they could have a pilot program as well. Wed have the ability to work for a couple of years integrating it into our schools and see what the actual results are prior to leading to a wider adoption, I hope, statewide.

QUESTION: So how do you get buy-in from teachers when theyre already asked to do so much?

Well, they wouldnt have to change their lesson plans, which is the big thing. They would learn how to do it through a professional development class taught by Mr. Jerry Nash, whos the chairman of education for the International Chess Federation.

Over a two- or three-day period in a workshop, they would learn how to integrate these into their current lesson plans.

They would learn the language of chess because it has its own language. They would be able to integrate that in with their current reading languages, with the current mathematical languages, and with their conflict resolution (lessons). His experience in Alabama was the teachers that were the most reluctant to try it, were the ones that became the largest and biggest advocates for it once they learned and saw the impact of it.

Its one of those things people tend to be afraid of. But when they actually start doing it, realize its not that big of a buy-in. Its just a tiny little thing, and if the children grasp the information quicker and retain it longer, that means we have to have fewer remediation classes going on or fewer repetitions of the same material over and over again.

QUESTION: Tell me about the tournament youre hoping to do in April? Whats the plan to get it going?

I know a chess person, a real chess person, is going to say you must have a big tournament at each of the schools. And if the schools want to do that, I think thats great. I would encourage it. But I dont want any school to be left out.

Thats why I said, You pick who your champion is, however you want to do it. It could be they have a chess tournament in the school, in between breaks, or one day after school, and then, whoever wins will be that schools representative.

But I want every high school to have the opportunity to have somebody participate.

Then well have a Swiss-style tournament, which means that certain people will play multiple times, and then whoever has the most points, that school and that individual will be the champion of Rutherford County.

That carries some pride with it because as we continue this the next year, the schools that didnt win, theres some pride involved because they didnt get a trophy. Theyll want to be better prepared, and theyll take the steps necessary, hopefully, to get there.

And if its part of a curriculum thats being worked into some of their classes, its in their mind, so it is kind of a marketing tool right there with it.

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Rutherford Co. Property Assessor Talks Chess in Schools, First Tournament - Rutherford Source