Barracks Row Main Street continued its sponsorship of Chess in the Park at the Eastern Market Metro Park for children in second through eighth grade. In the competition held on May 16, 47 students registered, with more than half living in the District of Columbia and the rest divided between Maryland and Virginia.
Playing over-the-board chess is a different experience from playing online, and the benefits are greater. Students meet as equals while playing, socializing in person while engaging in a highly competitive activity. During the game, the players are trying their best to win, but when the game ends the antagonists become allies, setting up their pieces and reporting the results together.
Gathering people with shared interests in a single location offers a healthier experience than playing by staring at a small screen. (Unlike online chess, it also requires the students to know how to set up the board.) On Saturday, the weather was terrific, warm but not hot, with a gentle breeze. Games were played in the shade of the pavilion, and there were plenty of opportunities to run around in the sunshine.
The format of Chess in the Park does not have set rounds but instead re-pairs the students as soon as a suitable partner is available. The result is a fast paced, fun experience. Awards are based on the percentage of wins instead of their total number.
Attesting to the closeness of the competition, nobody won all of his or her games. Sai Arjun, a fifth grader, came closest, winning eight games and drawing one and taking home the first place trophy. Takoma Park’s Piney Branch Elementary won the team championship, again demonstrating the value of showing up with a bunch of students. Capitol Hill Day School won the trophy for the top District of Columbia school.
The next Chess in the Park, also at Eastern Market Park Metro, will be June 6. Register here.