Chess Catches On with Field Park 4th and 5th Graders

A chess tournament has run at for each of the past seven years—but this year’s competition was a bit different. For one, students competed in teams of five rather than individually; for another, 40 students (eight teams) from the fourth and fifth grade signed up: over a third of those classes.

The tournament was established and is run by school principal Brad Promisel, himself a chess enthusiast. Promisel was also responsible for the format changes, which allow for more flexibility in game scheduling, and for more games to be played between different students (including many who might not otherwise socialize.)

“Out of the kids playing, there is a small number that are very, very interested and passionate and like to play more and learn more,” Promisel said. “For a larger group, it’s more social, which is fine. It’s an activity they belong to, they’re a part of, they’re recognized for, [and] they’re playing sometimes with kids they don’t even know.”

This year’s finals came down to the Blue Titans (Sam Heyer, Clare Griffin, Luke Stanner, Greg Coffman and Brendan Schumm) and the Epic Tiny Towers (Seam Ramsey, Brendan Cone, Joey Fitzgerald, Skip Locke and Oliver Lepenski,) the numbers one and two teams from the regular season, respectively.

After tying 2 ½-2 ½ in their championship match, the two teams went to a sudden-death playoff where the Epic Tiny Towers came out on top as the year’s playoff champs.

The students, many of whom learned the game from their parents, gave several reasons for why they liked Field Park’s chess tournament. “[Other programs] teach you chess strategy, but it’s more fun if you do it on your own,” said fifth-grader Griffin. “You get to play lots of different other people—you don’t play the same people every time.”

Locke, who did learn from a program, offered a different take. “I like how it’s a game of mind—not physical,” he said. “If you’re not good at physical sports, you can be good at this.”

“It’s a strategy game, and it’s a fun game to learn how all the pieces move and stuff,” offered Cone, who described his play style as “block-and-then-attack.”

Any reason is fine by Promisel. “It teaches flexible, creative thinking,” the principal said of chess and the tournament program. “It’s just great for the mind.”

Field Park will start up a new tournament for fourth and fifth graders in the fall.