Checkmate! Catholic kids learn chess strategies

This school year at Immaculate Heart Academy in Oro Valley, extracurricular activities are coming back after being canceled because of COVID. The chess club, started for the first time this school year by Coach Robert Fraga, offers students at Immaculate Heart critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in life. So far, the club has 12 members from grades K-8 that meet once a week after school to practice and improve their game skills through white board instructions. Members are encouraged to play chess regularly and watch assigned videos at home to further refine their skills and knowledge.

Chess, a game that has suddenly seen a spike in popularity is being attributed to COVID, increased online instructional material and Netflix’s series called 'The Queen’s Gambit.' The new chess club at Immaculate Heart couldn’t have come at a better time.

Coach Fraga plans on having the members participate in Tucson area scholastic tournaments conducted by the Southern Arizona Chess Association (SACA) Scholastic League. If scholastic tournaments are announced given current conditions, the club will become a United States Chess Federation (USCF) affiliate and a SACA member in order to participate as a team.  Members will also become USCF members to be included in sanctioned tournaments.

First grader, Ella Limmer, has grown to love chess. She says, “I’ve learned how to move the pieces the right way.” It also seems as though it's a game she can't get enough of. “I want to play chess right now!" says Ella. 

In the classroom, spread out in a row across six tables, Maya a second-grade student studies the chess board and eventually makes a move. Immaculate Heart is proud that they made the move to start their new chess club.