Mississippi State University’s chess club uses strategy to challenge its opponents and strengthen their critical thinking skills.
MSU’s chess club was founded about four years ago by Clay Polk, an MSU graduate.
Tyler Freeman, MSU’s chess club president, said Monday’s exhibition held on the Drill Field featured Viktor Ten, prior chess instructor from Kazakhstan, playing against multiple players.
“Viktor Ten, having been a chess club instructor in his home town, brings experience with his talent of playing chess to MSU,” Freeman said. “The exhibition served to connect people through the game of chess, to branch out and create friends.”
Viktor Ten, research scientist at the Department of Intelligent Systems and Energy Efficiency in Kazakhstan, Astana, said he has used opportunities to make chess popular and teach it to kids.
“I am very glad to be a part of MSU chess club and its events,” Ten said. “I am impressed how it is organized with a stable schedule. It is well-equipped and adapted for newcomers.”
Ten also said he is a part of the Kazakhstan and United States Chess Federation, both under world federation FIDE.
“My last time teaching kids in a club was about three years ago. However, I’m still involved with chess, and it has been my hobby since I was a child,” Ten said. “For the games of chess I like to cite Dr. Zigbert Tarrasch: ‘Chess like love, like music, has the power to make men happy.’”
Freeman said they held the first U.S. Chess Federation-rated tournament in August at MSU.
“The tournament was titled ‘The 2013 Mississippi State Grand Open,’ and we plan to make this an annual event,” Freeman said. “This year, I and chess club treasurer Jerel won two sections with a total of 30 people.”
Jerel Walker, MSU chess club treasurer and sophomore business administration major, said chess is a strategic game that stimulates the mind.
“Chess allows and helps people to think critically and to apply logic,” Walker said. “The stronger players one plays, the stronger player you become. Aside from deep thinking, chess is fun to play, so you have fun being challenged and being the challenger.”
Freeman said the next chess tournament will be held Saturday in the Colvard Student Union room 231. The chess club will create T-shirts, tailgating, intercollegiate chess traveling and outreach programs for young children. MSU chess club can be contacted at chessclubofMSU@gmail.com.
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Chess club competes on campus
Viktor Ten (left) competed against multiple students in a series of chess matches held near the Drill Field on Monday. Ten, member of the United States Chess Federation, visited for an exhibition with the MSU chess team, which will hold its next tournament Saturday in the Colvard Student Union.
MSU Chess Club
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