Franklin Middle School hosts annual chess tourney

Dozens of middle school students battled it out during the annual Franklin Middle School chess tournament Wednesday afternoon.

But to the 35 kids from both Franklin and Hawthorne Middle School who attended the tenth annual tournament, the game means more than just showing-off how they can bust a move on the chessboard.

“In chess, you have to think ahead and think about the consequences,” Franklin seventh grade student Wells Crosby said.

Which, is good life advice coming from someone in middle school.

But according to the school’s Gifted and Talented Education teacher Josh Nielsen, Crosby’s on to something big.

“Chess is an analytical game so there is constant analyzing going on and you have to think, ‘if I do this, what are the consequences?’ which can be directly related to how we function in life,” Nielsen said.

And the old stereotype of chess being a game for nerds, is now changing.

“I wouldn’t say chess is for nerds, I would just say it’s just a game about thinking instead of just how physical you are so I think that is why people think that, but it’s still a very fun game,” Crosby said.

In fact, Nielsen said research shows kids who play chess statistically do well in other aspects of life.

According to a study by the Ontario Chess Association, “Chess accommodates all modality strengths, provides a far greater quantity of problems for practice, offers immediate punishments and rewards for problem solving, and creates a pattern or thinking system that, when used faithfully, breeds success.”

It also states, “A learning environment organized around games has a positive effect on students’ attitudes toward learning.”

Nielsen said the GATE program used to have earmarked funding from the state to help support these programs, but now that money has gone into the general fund.

So, these sorts of opportunities for students are available thanks to grants, donations, and volunteers.

“It would be fun to take a group of kids to a state tournament to go to another state to play, but there is just not enough funding for field trips these days,” Nielsen said.

But, he said there is some big money to be made in chess – that is, if you’re good at it.

Nielsen said some colleges offer scholarships and winners in the big, national tournaments could be walking away with thousands of dollars.