TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Pawn Brokers

Academy Prep of Tampa Bay students are taught chess as a way to help them learn.

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Academy Prep of Tampa Bay sixth-grader Farron Rainford, 11, ponders his next move while playing chess after school. Chess is in the classrooms and among the academy’s extracurricular activities. Students are encouraged to check out chess Web sites.

ADVERTISEMENT

By KATHY STEELE

ksteele@tampatrib.com

Published: January 21, 2009

YBOR CITY - "It calms me down," said Kalin Battle. "It's a game where I have to think about what I do."
In December, at the National Scholastic K-12 Championships in Buena Vista, Academy Prep students upped their game a notch. For the first time, chess club members received ratings from the tournament's sponsor, the U.S. Chess Federation.
Points are assigned based on a player's abilities, with the lowest scores for beginners and highest for premier players. Ratings are provisional until after 25 games have been played.
In team play, Academy Prep's eighth-graders placed sixth among 12 teams, rated and un rated; seventh-graders came in ninth among 14 teams, also rated and unrated.
Individual winners among unrated eighth-graders included Dwight Crawford in first place and Mattaldi Morris in third; among seventh graders, Michael Hicks was second and Kalin was third. A premier player, Kalin scored the highest rating in the school's history.
The privately funded Academy Prep enrolls low-income, middle grade students who attend classes up to 11 hours a day, six days a week, 11 months of the year. Scholarships are provided through donations from individuals, businesses and foundations.
Chess is in the classrooms and among the academy's extracurricular activities. The best players join the chess club and play intramural school tournaments, as well as regional and national contests.
Louis Mayer, 12, and Farron Rainford, 11, like to play speed chess. Each makes a move, slaps the clock buzzer and waits for the opponent's move. No more than five minutes between plays is allowed.
"It's like a battlefield," Louis said. "If you make a false move, you're in a mess. It's hard to get out."
McNair said he teaches the basics and encourages students to check out chess Web sites. And they get plenty of chances to play at school, after hours and on special occasions when parents are invited to join in.
"They initially thought it was a nerdy game … but when they started to play it, they said it was fun," McNair said.
Some want to go nonstop, ignoring lunch breaks.
"I have to say, 'Eat your food or you don't play,'" he said.
Some have gotten so good they are beating McNair.
"I have to really get into my game now," McNair said.
Among the club's prizes is the first-place trophy for the recent West Florida Scholastic Gran Prix Chess Tournament. It was the club's third victory in a row.
"They won it convincingly," McNair said.
Next up is the West Florida Regional Championships, K-12 on Jan. 25 at Carrollwood Day School, 1515 Bearss Ave.
After-school sessions under McNair's tutelage are for honing skills.
Dwight, who has a premier rating, wants to move up a point or two in his ratings.
He has learned not to move a board piece just because there is an open square. Think ahead is the mantra.
"So they don't see you have moves that are hidden," Dwight said.
Christopher Flowers, 14, sized up his practice match with 11-year-old Chris Custodio: "Right now, he's winning; It's about to change."

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT