Success Academy, a network of free public charter schools, hosted Judit Polgar, the best woman chess player in history, as part of its already extensive chess curriculum. The grandmaster coached 40 students from Success Academy Charter Schools at the historic Marshall Chess Club, where chess champions like Brooklynite Bobby Fischer and Fabiano Caruana have played.
“Chess demolishes differences, whether between poor and rich or the old and the young,” Polgar said. “It’s an international language that has been played over the centuries and by almost every culture.”
The top players from the charter school’s network are attending a week-long summer camp at the famous Greenwich Village club. The school has previously invited former world chess champion and grandmaster Garry Kasparov, as well as grandmasters Maurice Ashley, Irina Krush and Giorgi Kacheishvili. The chess experts have visited with Success Academy students and teacher to give them helpful hints and answer their questions.
“Our scholars are taking chess as a regular subject beginning in kindergarten,” said Sean O’ Hanlon, the head of Success Academy’s chess program. “So for all of our 9,000 students chess is kind of a common language. Chess is simply good for kids’ brains, and no one knows that better than chess professionals like Judit.”
Three Brooklyn-based students have been given the opportunity to learn from the masters. Ethan Rodriguez, a rising fourth grader at Success Academy Bed-Stuy 1, said “The visit was very fun because we got to do puzzles. One of the puzzles we did I already learned the day before so I was very proud of myself that I remembered.” He said there isn’t anywhere to play chess in his neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, but he plays all the time at school and he can also go to Central Park to play.
Success Academy students start taking chess in kindergarten and continue through the fourth grade. In middle school, chess is offered as an elective for those still interested.
As early as first grade, students are able to play competitively. During the 2014-2015 school year, there were 28 rated chess tournaments. In 2015, 122 players from 11 Success Academy schools participated in United States Chess Federation national competitions. An all-girls chess tournament was organized, with close to 100 girls competing. Success Academy employs 25 chess teacher, more than any other school in New York City.
Dylan Eisenberg of Williamsburg has been playing chess for three years and has already made it to nationals this May in Nashville, Tennessee. He lost his first game there, but bounced back and all six of his remaining games. Dylan and his team came seventh in the U800 division, out of 59 teams. Individually, Dylan placed 13th out of 333 competitors in that division. “What I like about competing is that you can get to know your opponent better and you can test yourself against better players,” said Eisenberg, who goes to Success Academy Williamsburg.
Geah Jean Baptiste of Bed-Stuy, has been to both state and national competitions. Geah, who has been playing chess for four years at Success Academy Bed-Stuy 1, was inspired by Polgar’s visit. “Her visit inspired me to grow up and be a grandmaster like her. She is one of the best girl grandmasters.” Geah cautioned that a student would, “have to study and play lots of games and learn from your opponents”, to be a grandmaster like Polgar.
