THUNDER BAY -- A local public school student believes one of the world’s oldest games is still the best workout for the mind.
Aidan Raygorodestsky joined more than 90 elementary students from Thunder Bay to test his strategy skills in the second annual, city-wide chess competition at C.D. Howe Public School.
“I enjoy playing chess because it allows me to exercise my brain,” the Grade 7 student said before his second match.
“It makes your brain work harder than it normally would playing any other sport.”
Raygorodestsky said he likes the strategy aspect because it gives him the opportunity to show how he can use tactics to defeat his opponents.
Raygorodestsky believes more people should take up chess.
Grade 5/6 teacher Russ Aegard said the competition gives students an opportunity to apply their mathematics and decision-making skills.
“Research shows kids that learn chess tend to do better in mathematics,” he said.
“There’s a lot of logic involved, patterning, problem solving and critical thinking skills.”
Aegard explained a small number of school boards in Canada have begun using chess as part of their math curriculum.
CD Howe students have the opportunity to learn basic chess skills twice a week.
The club teaches game plans from time-tested openings to isolating the opponent’s king for the endgame.
“One of the moves we teach the kids is called a step ladder movement,” Aegard said, “The queen works with the rook and they move like a step ladder, forcing the king to the edge of the board where it can’t move anymore.”
Aegard strongly believes skills learnt from chess are beneficial in any subject area.
