Our local newspaper, The Evansville Courier and Press, did a wonderful story(pictures) on the chess tournament yesterday:
From one of our 8th graders:
"Joseph said he enjoyed the strategy of chess but that the lessons it teaches are not limited to what happens on the board during a game.
“You look at the board, and you try to predict what the other player will do,” he said. “But you have to be able to see all the options.
“I think it helps me in how I look at the world,” Joseph continued. “I want to be able to see all the options I have with what I want to do my life. Playing chess has taught me that it helps to consider many different possibilities.”
Mike,
Do you walk away from this thinking there is hope yet for this civilization?
Good deal. Seeing all the options is something that many are unable to do, it takes an open mind.
I imagine teaching sportsmanship is also a benefit. I saw the one photo of the players shaking hands, is that a requirement ? We are all going to be bested at some point, learning that early helps. Some folks just can’t handle it.
Our kids participated in many individual sports, wrestling and track mostly. You can’t hide out there alone, no blaming the other members of the team for a loss. It would seem chess tournaments would be similar.
....Please remember .... young minds are very impressionable ....
Tanitoluwa Adewumi, who lives with his family in a shelter in New York City, went from chess novice to chess champion in little over a year.CreditChristopher Lee for The New York Times
Here's some better images of him:
I did some additional chess research on the kid. He really did start competing in rated tournaments a year ago.
Here's his US Chess Federation ratings graph from the tournaments that he's played in. WOW! This kid is really gifted.
Good for him.
Let's hope he is able to stay on the right side of life.