Focus, discipline, strategic thinking and concentration are the requirements necessary to take up a game of chess between opponents.
The City of Ekurhuleni’s Library and Information Services is on a roll to challenge both young and old residents to stretch their imagination over a game of chess.
The objective is to assist and develop the players into professional chess players by providing chess sets, clocks and notation books, and to rope in highly rated local coaches.
The free lessons will equip the participants with skills needed to become professional players by availing them of graded coaches to give them free chess classes.
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Metro spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, says the programme will run for a period of one year.
“It will see learners from local schools and all interested persons from the community graduating from the programme with confidence and critical thinking skills that they can apply in their day-to-day experiences.
“The city, in partnership with local schools and community chess organisations, is encouraged by the chess players’ passion for the game, eagerness to play and willingness to improve their chess skills,” he says.
Gadebe says the metro is also working to host the first inter-library tournaments in September 2018 with participation of about 19 libraries and chess community organisations.
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“We will continue to support regional chess tournaments so that ultimately the players qualify for national or international tournaments.
“Furthermore, the skills development programme is not only meant to assist participants to learn to stretch their imagination and improve their cognitive thinking abilities, but it is also a catalyst for positive change as it creates job opportunities for local rated coaches,” he says.
The programme is supported through the city’s Grant-In-Aid programme.
