CHESS FOR YOUNG NOVA SCOTIANS

Last updated September 15, 2005.

Chess at Any Age!

Young people enjoy playing chess. And time and time again, chess has been shown to improve the scholastic abilities of young people. Why? Well chess requires logical thinking skills and the ability to concentrate. So chess players "exercise" those skills whenever they play. And when you consider that young people are self-motivated to play chess and the chess sets are not costly in comparison to many of today's board games and video games, you have to conclude that chess is good for young people! In some parts of the world - particularly eastern Europe, chess is part of school work, especially in mathematics. Perhaps schools in Nova Scotia should do more to promote chess!

Learn more about this at the web page of the NOVA SCOTIA SCHOLASTIC CHESS ASSOCIATION.

The Junior Chess site in British Columbia has a useful section on "TOURNAMENT RULES FOR JUNIOR PLAYERS".

PAST EVENTS

(a much more comprehensive list of youth events, past and future, may be found at the NOVA SCOTIA SCHOLASTIC CHESS ASSOCIATION)

The Dartmouth Library Children's Chess Tournament, tournament directory Don Bidgood, was a fine success on Saturday, March 12, 2005 with 67 contestants in three categories.

The winners in each section were:

Advanced Level (ten contestants):
First Prize:	Shane Wang	Clayton Park Junior High
Second Prize:	Charles Lu	Park West

Intermediate Level (thirty two contestants):
First Prize:	Fred Lu		Park West
Second Prize:	Andrew Morrison	Cornwallis
Third Prize:	Abdul Kazak	Grosvenor Wentworth

Beginners Level (twenty five contestants):
First Prize:	Thomas Hammond	Halifax Grammar
Second Prize:	Jeffrey Wang	Duc d'Anville
Third Prize:	Robert Brown	Oceanview Elementary

Congratulations to all the participants!

Nova Scotia High School and Youth Chess Clubs:

HRM - Dartmouth The DARTMOUTH JUNIOR CHESS CLUB is open to children from 6 to 16. It meets from September through June on Saturdays 1 - 4:00 PM at the Alderney Gate Library, Dartmouth next to the ferry terminal. Call Don Bidgood (902) 463-7667 or the Halifax Regional Library - Youth Services Department (902) 490-5748 for information. Adult help, either regularly or occasionally, is always welcome: non-Chess players to assist with the registration desk, and Chess players to help with the young members. Call Don Bidgood if you can lend a hand.
Shubenacadie - SHUBENACADIE DISTRICT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHESS CLUB meets Tuesdays for grade 4 and Thursdays for grade 5 at Shubenacadie District School during lunch hours. Contact Eileen Dwyer-Crane for more information.
Truro - CEC HIGH SCHOOL CHESS CLUB meets 3:00 Wednesdays and Fridays at the Cobequid Educational Centre.
Former members and students from other high schools and junior highs are invited to come out to our club. We are also looking for adults who would be willing to do a little bit of coaching.
Contact: Terry Thorsen home: 897-4897 school: 896-5700
Antigonish - DR.HUGH MACPHERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHESS CLUB meets Monday afternoons from 2:45 to 4:30pm. Cindy Murphy (tel.# 902-863-0218) is organizing it with the help of teacher Mr. Bob Rodgers and support of high school student, Jonathan Taylor. At the moment children from grades 1 to 6 from the elementary school play one afternoon per week (Monday). The enrolment is approximately 24 with a core group of 14 regulars.
Bridgewater - BRIDGEWATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHESS CLUB meets Thursday's at lunch time in the library of Bridgewater Elementary School. Contact Mitch Landry 902-543-9197.
Greenwich - Horton High School Chess Club meets Wednesdays at 1:15pm in Room #1610. Contact Helen Seymour, Tel. 902-542-6060.

Do you have a High School Chess club? Please let us know at nschess@chebucto.ns.ca so we can list your club here!

To leave a comment to the person who maintains this file, send email to nschess@chebucto.ns.ca