Chess champions flex minds in national battle
Greg Churchill teaches students the art of chess. From left: C.J. Rainsberry, 10; Mathew Geng, 7; Tian Tian Geng, 15; Yi Deng, 6; Jill Ding, 13 and Alec Xu, 9.
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Six children sit very still in an unusually quiet room, thinking hard about the games in front of them.
This isn’t your average summer camp.
There isn’t the faintest smell of sunscreen or campfire in the air.
These kids have traded in bows and arrows for kings and bishops.
Tian Tian Geng, 15, and Jill Ding, 13, are two of Victoria’s premier chess players.
The two are gearing up for the Canadian Youth Chess championships coming to Victoria July 21-24.
They’ve been training hard, like little athletes flexing their minds in preparation for battle.
Geng said the competition is about becoming a stronger player.
“It’s just about playing a game you know you do well in. Because there’s definitely going to be someone better than you,” he said.
Ding said she likes working through game strategies and learning from her opponents.
Their teacher, Greg Churchill, said the competition is important for the kids to show off their skills, but what they learn also applies to their academic and social lives.
“Chess is a good idea for kids to play and learn at a basic level. It helps with problem solving abilities,” he said.
Churchill has taught chess in Victoria elementary schools for 12 years. He said children who learn chess in school improve their reading comprehension and math skills. They also learn concentration and planning skills while developing good sportsmanship.
“It helps you think logically,” Ding said.
This is the second national championship for both players.
lweighton@vicnews.com
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