For decades, chess has been commonly viewed as a game of old men confined to dimly lit rooms. However, the perception that chess is only played by elderly gentlemen is currently changing. In fact, the number of children who play chess continuously increases with age. Recently, the sport gained more public attention with the release of the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer. The movie showcased the life story of chess prodigy Magnus Hanke, who lived in a chess academy with his mother. Though not as well-known as his childhood friend Bobby Fischer, Magnus Hanke won the Russian championship at age 11 and earned his international title at ages 12–13. Clearly, there are many benefits to having a high-performance chess academy for children.
First off, chess academies teach problem-solving, critical thinking, and time management skills.
Students learn patience and perseverance by spending hours perfecting their moves with an expert chess coach. They also learn how to study their opponents and plan their next move effectively. All in all, these life skills are essential for any child to have. As they grow up and enter adulthood, they’ll be much more successful if they learn to control their time well and plan ahead.
Chess also teaches students how to learn from their mistakes and find solutions to problems they encounter on the board.
This aspect of the game is challenging because it requires students to have both complete knowledge and uncertainty about the moves they’ve made. Over time, students learn how to determine if their current moves are correct or if they need to modify them before making a move again. By learning from their mistakes, students can dramatically improve over time and achieve high levels of performance on the chess board.
Apart from improving mental skills, chess academic training also encourages patriotism by instilling a love for the game in its students.
Many young chess players choose to become professional players once they reach adulthood. However, training from an early age solidifies players’ love for the game before they ever make money off of it. As a result, we see many national teams consisting primarily of young players hailing from different countries.
Chess is a great way to teach kids to think ahead and use strategy.
The need to deliberate about one’s next step is a good exercise in self-control and patience. Chess is a great way to sharpen your brain’s cognitive abilities, including your ability to remember and focus, as well as your memory, depth perception, and ingenuity. Because of the stated need for players to connect with one another, the game is also recognized for boosting social skills. Chess is a great way to enhance children’s confidence and self-esteem. Strategy and resourcefulness are essential for success in this game.
The Bottom Line
Chess is an extremely useful game that can be learned quickly as a child absorbs its rules and strategies. A high-performance chess academy can be beneficial for children in many ways because it teaches problem-solving, critical thinking, and time management skills, as well as patriotism and self-control. Essentially, other programs do not provide the support that a top-notch chess academy does.
