Chess is a strategy-based game that requires a lot of thinking: A game that can help the underdeveloped mind of an adolescent to really use their brain.
Chess can help train the brain to figure out certain problems in the real world. This is exactly what happens each Wednesday after school in math teacher Matt Brown’s classroom as a group of 10-20 students meet to test who is the best at chess.
“We’re having students play other students so you know fun but within that fun there is a competition going on,” Brown said.
Brown was approached in September 2022 by one of his students, Peyton Shundry; She suggested that there should be a Chess Club and the school board agreed.
“A girl approached me at the beginning of the year and just asked if we could have a Chess Club. I already advised two clubs: our Academic Challenge Team and Math Honors Society.”
“So I had to think about it for a couple of weeks but then I finally said you know what we can do. So we have been in existence for two years now,” Brown said.
Senior Ben Martens attended the Chess Club last year on a regular basis.
“ I just like the strategy, like how you have to think about playing it. it’s just different from a lot of other games. I would always be there unless I had a conflict,” Martens said.
The Chess Club is a very welcoming and pleasant environment for new participants.
“Everyone in there is really really nice. Almost everyone will just randomly go hey does anyone want to play then they will play some rounds of chess. Even if people are sitting out they always get invited to watch and there’s so much inclusion it’s kind of cool,” sophomore Kaylah Kershner said.
All of them said they had an overall positive and welcoming experience. It was in a calm environment, with everyone in there having a good time. Starting this year, they are starting to be competitive and compete with other schools.
“We are going to be having the first Stark County Chess Tournament this coming February,” Brown said. “The schools involved are McKinley, GlenOak, and Hoover I believe are going to be involved, and are still waiting on Jackson and Lake,” Brown said.
Not only is the Chess Club a fun and engaging activity to do after school, but now there is a competition aspect to it. This new competition has potential to not only increase enthusiasm around joining the club, but will motivate its members to push the program further.