Play chess since first grade. A program that includes 10 thousand elementary and high schools. Near a thousand chess professors graduated. Influence on academic results.

By Eyleen Ríos, National Chess Master

AIN Special Services

Cuban Great Masters (GM)Lázaro Bruzón and Leinier Domínguez are the best chess players in the island and are among the 100 best chess players around the world. Nonetheless, they have not achieved those outstanding rankings by attending laboratories for super-talented kids.

Some 10 years ago, they were studying at elementary school and their first contact with chess was through a national program sponsored by the Cuban government to boost this sport across the island.

According to the director of the Latin American Higher Institute of Chess (ISLA), International Master Gerardo Lebredo, this initiative aims to "influence academic performance and learn through the development of a creative and independent thought."

This institute -located in Havana and attached to the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) - gathers experts who contribute to the massive training of youngsters.

"The detection of chess players with high level of achievement is possible thanks to the far-reaching vision of this project which was implemented in 1989, though it has been more promoted since 2002," says Lebredo.

Chess recovered popularity in the island after a gigantic simultaneous match held that year at the Revolution Square. The massive event was also attended by its mastermind, Cuban president Fidel Castro, and sponsored by the INDER and the Minister of Education.

Fidel Castro pointed out in that occasion that the spread of chess among Cubans will give them the opportunity to think more efficiently.
"It's like a basic subject," he said.

"Fidel also noted the importance to extend chess teaching to high schools, to graduate chess professors and to broadcast TV courses on chess," said Lebredo.

Great Masters, Masters and International Referees from all over the island joined efforts to carry out this project in all Cuban provinces.

Four years after the implementation of the plan, chess practice is already common in elementary and high schools. Meanwhile, the program has been more recently incorporated to universities as well.

DEVELOPING INTELECTUAL ABILITIES

However, who are in charge of teaching and how do they prepare themselves for teaching? The Physical Education department of the INDER is closely related to this task.

"Physical Education professors are the main responsible throughout the teaching process, though they also have the parents' collaboration and the support of other professors who have a wider knowledge on the sport," says supervisor Pablo Cabrera.

"They are in charge of organizing simultaneous chess matches and other competitions, they detect potential talents and encourage the students to participate in researching activities," he added.

This task has proved to be a challenge to the promoters, who have been forced to create new methods of teaching for little children.

"Sometimes is really difficult explain some of the rules of the game to a 5-year-old kid. Thus, it's necessary to apply methods such as the equivalence between pieces and roles in daily life," explained Cabrera who noted they are still working on improvements in this area.

"Nonetheless, we have motivated professors which is a chief factor to attain the attention of children. Chess has proved to be a very useful game to achieve a cognitive independence and to develop concentration, memory and logical thinking," he added.

NEAR ONE THOUSAND CHESS PROFESSORS GRADUATED

As part of the Cuban program aimed to promote chess, the training of chess professors with university degree began in 2003.

"They began with the basic subjects and started delivering classes after the first year. They continued their studies parallel to this activity and finally graduated of Physical Culture with a major in chess," explains Lebredo

"Near one thousand youngsters are currently engaged in this kind of courses across the island where they simultaneously teach what they have learnt."

"Their work, along with that of the Physical Education professors, have reached over 9.000 elementary schools and 1.000 high schools incorporated to the project. Teaching programs vary according to students' educational level."

"We are currently working, in coordination the University of Informatics, on the creation of a software aimed to make lessons more attractive and interactive."

Lebredo and all the people involved in this project know there is still lot to do to achieve their goal. Nonetheless, the frequent news on gigantic chess matches and on the growing number of chess players justify their effort.

This program is already producing results: Cuba is the continental chess champion and children have unquestionably improved their intellectual capacities.

Guerilla legend Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who was the driving force behind chess diffusion in Cuba, has said: "Chess is an efficient tool for the education and training of men intellect".