A burning desire to ignite the passion for school chess in Nghe An province.
(Baonghean.vn) - As an intellectual sport that trains thinking skills and character, chess is currently loved by many young people. The school chess movement is developing quite strongly in Nghe An province, notably the activities of the Chess Club at Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School.
From hobby to passion
We came across the Chess Club of Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School (Vinh City, Nghe An Province) quite by chance. One evening, while strolling along the pedestrian street, browsing the bustling stalls, we noticed a group of students sitting together in a corner, unusually quiet and out of place amidst the noisy and lively atmosphere. Curious, we approached them and learned that this was a "Street Chess" activity organized by the students of the province's specialized high school.
Ho An Thu, a student in class 11C5 and currently the head of the Chess Club at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted (PCA), said: "From around the end of 2022 until now, every two weeks, on Friday or Saturday evening, PCA organizes Street Chess on the sidewalk of the pedestrian street in Vinh City. We usually rent small tables and chairs, or simply spread out mats and sit on the sidewalk, but this activity always attracts a large number of children and young people to participate enthusiastically and seriously."
Further investigation reveals that the Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, despite its relatively young age (only about 3 years old), is currently one of the most prominent clubs at this prestigious school, boasting a large membership and consistently maintaining many beneficial and effective programs and activities. PCA was conceived from the passion of young teachers and students, notably Mr. Phan Phuong Duc – a former student of the school's specialized mathematics program and now a mathematics teacher. Mr. Duc was the founder, laying the first "bricks" for PCA in its early days. Now, as the club's activities become more organized, he has stepped back, taking on the role of senior advisor and supporting and encouraging young chess players to keep the passion alive for this hobby club.
For the members of PCA, Mr. Phan Phuong Duc is not only a teacher but also like an experienced elder brother, a former professional chess player of the province, who has achieved high results many times at national and international youth chess tournaments. He has instilled a love for chess in his students, leading many to gradually become attached to and passionate about this intellectual sport, discovering its benefits in developing thinking skills, improving concentration, building composure, maintaining a calm attitude, and also as a healthy form of entertainment after stressful hours of studying in class.
Having studied and taught in Hanoi, I noticed that the chess movement in the capital was very strong. However, when I moved to work in Nghe An, I found that the movement was not as vibrant or widespread. Therefore, stemming from my childhood passion for chess, I requested permission and received support from the school to establish a chess club, creating a beneficial playground that brings many positive things to the students.
Through personal experiences, coupled with diligent observation and learning of new and effective ideas and methods for building and developing the chess movement in other localities across the country, Mr. Duc, along with his colleagues and students, has selectively adopted and applied some methods suitable to the conditions and practical situation to make PCA grow stronger.
The success of PCA has inspired and motivated the establishment of chess clubs at other high schools in Vinh City and surrounding areas. Along with that, many meaningful and vibrant activities have been organized. Besides Street Chess, we must mention the Vinh Chess Summer 2022 tournament, which PCA organized in collaboration with the chess clubs of Huynh Thuc Khang High School and Vinh University High School for the Gifted; simultaneous exchanges and competitions with national champion Nguyen Dinh Trung - a chess player from Nghe An province; online exchanges with the chess club of Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted (Ho Chi Minh City); and many well-organized school-level tournaments...
"Chess Festival" at the beginning of the new year
In the final days of the Year of the Rabbit, the atmosphere at the Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted's Chess Club remained vibrant, with everyone diligently dedicating their time and effort to completing preparations for a tournament to celebrate the New Year. Building on the success of previous chess tournaments and exchange activities, the young members of PCA boldly conceived and collaborated with the Nghe Chess Club to organize the first Phoenix Trung Do Chess Festival – celebrating the Year of the Dragon 2024.
According to Mr. Phan Phuong Duc, this will be the largest and most professional tournament ever co-organized by PCA, aiming to fulfill its mission from the very beginning: to strongly promote the chess movement in Nghe An and surrounding areas. The tournament aims to attract participants from chess clubs or independent players, divided into 12 groups for boys and girls, ages 6-14, and an open group with no age limit. The format will be rapid chess, with each player having 15 minutes to complete their game, and the competition will follow an 8-round Swiss system.
Although the online registration link was only recently opened, the tournament has already received quite a few applications from young chess players both within and outside the province. Mr. Lam Thai An, a parent whose child loves chess, said after learning about PCA's activities and the upcoming tournament: "My child was very excited when he learned about this tournament, so I decided to register him to participate in the Phoenix Trung Do Chess Festival on February 18th (the 9th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Dragon) in Vinh City. I find this to be a very practical and beneficial playground for school-aged children, an opportunity for young students who love chess to experience, compete, learn, and nurture a healthy passion. I hope the tournament will be successful and held regularly in the future."
In the joyful, enthusiastic, and vibrant atmosphere of welcoming the arrival of Spring,Phoenix Central Capital Chess TournamentThis will certainly add more joy to the festive season in Nghe An province, and is a "fixed" itinerary for chess enthusiasts of all ages during the spring trip. And amidst the vibrant energy of spring, more promising talents will be discovered and nurtured, potentially becoming future leaders who will continue to develop and improve the performance of youth chess clubs in particular, and Nghe An in general, in this intellectual sport.
