More students learning chess

Just before the big chess tournament, little Naomi Otero needed a pep talk to calm her nerves.

Don’t cry if you lose. And shake hands with your opponent if you win, the second-grader heard from her mom, Joyce Otero.

The doubts disappeared, the nerves vanished, and the 7-year-old from Three Points Elementary raced to announce to her mother she won her first game during a tournament, where about 400 Orange County school children competed.

Chess is on the rise in the Orange school district. That’s one reason officials needed a large venue at the University of Central Florida to host the event for students in grades K-8. It was the first time UCF has ever hosted the tournament with the school system.

Only 29 Orange elementary schools offered chess clubs three years ago, but the numbers have climbed to 101 elementary and middle schools this year.

By 2018-19, the district’s chess initiative is expected to stretch into high schools with the eventual goal of having a chess club in every single school at every level, said Beth Gillam, the tournament director who works on the chess initiative in the district’s Minority Achievement Office.

Educators view chess as a strategy game that improves math and criticalthinking skills, boosting test scores and getting students college-ready.

“One of the greatest things about the chess initiative, it’s equal access to everybody. Everybody can come to the table and play,” Gillam said. “It evens the playing field. It’s your mind against the person’s from the table in front of you.”

In the lobby of Keene’s Crossing Elementary in Orange, there are tables with chessboard surfaces and game pieces.

“It definitely makes a statement — we play chess here,” said Mohamed Jagarnath, a Windermere third-grade teacher who sponsors the before-school club that grew from nine members to 90, so big that some students were turned away this school year.

Florida schools with strong chess programs include those in Gainesville, Lakeland and the Miami area, according to the Florida Chess Association, which sold discounted boards to the Orange County district. Last month, Hillsborough County Schools held its first tournament for elementary schools that serve low-income families.

During the UCF tournament, the gym at the College of Education was hushed as students competed. It was clear the students were deep in thought — some bit their nails, rested their head on their hands or stared intently at the board as they pondered their next move. The room was set up for about 260 games at a time.

There hasn’t been any board-flipping, although a child once threw a chess piece at another player, Gillam said.

Sometimes it was the parents acting inappropriately. They couldn’t resist sneaking in a coaching tip or a cough meant to say, “Warning! You’re making a bad move!”

Teriq Chaney, 9, and Joshua Dorzin, 10, found an empty corner on the floor to practice in between matches.

Teriq had just lost match to an older boy, but he wasn’t discouraged.

“I’m not mad I lost,” said Teriq, a third-grader at Pine Hills Elementary. “I’m stoked. This is my first tournament.”

The two boys played against each other, unaware of the hundreds of young chess players and their families who ushered in and out of the gym.

“Check!” Joshua said, slamming his bishop on the board.

GABRIELLE RUSSON/STAFF Joshua Dorzin, 10, left, and Teriq Chaney, 9, who both attend Pine Hills Elementary, find a corner to practice chess during a recent tournament.