Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Repulse Bay (Nov 04/02) - A new club at Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay has sparked strong interest in a classic board game among local students.

Teachers Ken Bond and Chris Murray decided to start the Tusarvik school chess club this semester.

The chess club runs two nights a week. One gathering is for students in grades 8 to 12, while the other is for grades four to seven.

Bond says eight players show up regularly from the higher grades.

He says while most of the older students know the rules of chess, the club has attracted a few female students who are new to playing.

"Getting some of the older girls learning how to play was one of my targets starting this program," says Bond.

"It's great to see them playing, instead of just sitting around and watching the guys play all the time."

About 16 students from grades four to seven are showing up each week.

And, while chess is not the world's easiest game to learn, the young students are picking up the rules quickly.

The instructors are taking the students through the basics of the game step-by-step before moving onto more advanced strategies.

A number of studies indicate that playing chess has the potential to improve academic performance.

By playing, students develop their critical thinking, logical reasoning and problem solving skills.

They also develop memory, concentration and visualization skills, along with confidence, patience and determination.

The chess club also offers social benefits, with students getting together for a common cause and interacting on a one-to-one basis at least once a week.

Bond says he and Murray are using a program developed by the Canadian Chess Federation for teaching chess in schools.

The program introduces students to the game one piece at a time.

"At first they play a pawns only game and then we introduce the rook, bishop and so on until we're playing with all the pieces.

"We're competing against badminton right now for the students' time.

"But, I'm sure we'll see the chess club grow as the year progresses."