Leon Lombard has played probably just as many chess games as the number of children who passed through his classroom in his many years as beloved primary school teacher and principal. He retired some years ago as principal of Dannhauser Primary, but still remains active in education, assisting many children with extra Maths and Afrikaans lessons. As an educator and avid chess player, Leon says he cannot over-emphasise the importance of chess as a game of relaxation, skills development, mental development and concentration.

“I saw the advantage of chess at school when I actively became involved in the coaching thereof. For many years, I took a class for half an hour a week and taught the children how to play chess. “Upon asking the children what they thought about chess, I had some wonderful answers.

They spoke about the fact that chess teaches them divergent thinking; learning all the moves of the different pieces; helping them to concentrate; teaches them about horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines (used in Mathematics); discipline (thinking before touching a piece); etc,” Leon told the Courier.

“When they started to note down games, they came to realise that the position of a piece on the board is like finding the co-ordinates on a map (Geography) or a graph (Mathematics).

Using a clock in a timed game became a feat of concentration – thinking against time, noting down the move, making the move and then pressing the clock.”

Leon was involved in primary school chess tournaments for many years, both provincially and nationally, and also acted 13 times as assistant tournament director for the National SA Primary School Championships.

“To me, personally, it is a pleasure to play against my grandchildren and to see the pleasure when they beat me. They also enjoy the time with grandpa and it creates a fond family bond.” Leon recalls that he once asked the learners why they thought they were encouraged to play chess at school.

“While also receiving those answers mentioned above, one girl astounded me with her answer. She said that it taught a person to make a decision. I was truly amazed by her insight. In all other sports, reaction is the answer to the situation. Hitting a cricket ball coming at you is an immediate reaction, but sitting and considering the different possibilities and consequences of a move and then deciding which is the best option teaches one patience and discipline.

Maybe chess is the only game where a grandfather and grandchild can play against each other. I have been playing chess since 1958 and have always been a good administrator and coach, but never the best in the club.”