News

March 16, 2010

Two-time US Chess Champion visits LPS-Richmond

LPS-Richmond chess club members gathered last month to go head-to-head with two-time US Chess Champion and International Grandmaster, Patrick Wolff. Mr. Wolff went through a number of opening strategies, discussed chess notation and answered student questions before the group set up their boards for a simultaneous match. Throughout the session, Mr. Wolff emphasized the importance of rigorous study to achieve results, an idea embedded throughout the Leadership Public Schools culture.

“Chess is the purest and fairest expression of intellectual debate I know. Chess rewards logic, creativity and objectivity with victory and teaches you that learning leads to success.”

The visit was a follow-up to a two-day training sponsored by Mr. Wolff and Chess in Schools, a NY-based nonprofit educational organization dedicated to improving academic performance and building self-esteem among urban public school children. LPS teachers learned how to sequence training for students, organize competitions and use the Chess in Schools curriculum. As the chess teams develop, there are plans to create an LPS chess league with competitions among the four campuses. Mr. Wolff will be providing ongoing support to all four LPS campuses as they continue to develop the chess clubs and look at integrating chess into the curriculum.

Adam Kondonijakos, the chess club teacher said, “It was a great experience having Patrick come speak with our kids. I know they, and I, will never forget it. I think that with the right amount of time and dedication, several of our students could turn into very good competitors.”

LPS-Richmond students agreed. "It was an honor to be check mated by him,” said Takota Bennett.