Checkmate

**The media below contains the opinion of an individual student and therefore does not represent or speak to the values of Vestavia Hills High School and Vestavia Hills City Schools**

Photo courtesy of Google

Chess is more than a game–it’s a journey of strategy, patience, and mental fortitude. For over 1,500 years, players have been drawn to the 8x8 checkered board, challenged by its grueling demands for intellectual dominance. For high school students like those here in Vestavia, who are juggling the busy school work of AP classes, extracurricular activities, and life’s complexities, chess offers a unique escape from the chaos of the world. 

To understand the why behind playing chess, I talked to a few of our school’s players. 

Junior Andrew Wang talks about how “it’s a leisurely activity” and that “using your brain… a mental activity makes it fun.” He plays not only because “it’s fun,” but also because “it helps you think.”

Likewise, Junior Sam Baska Raj, one of the highest-rated players in the state of Alabama with an ELO of 1880, describes how chess “develops the brain with pattern recognition and strategy.” Furthermore, he describes the satisfaction of “winning by my own hard work, efforts, and preparation,” and even when he doesn’t win, he loves “discover[ing] new ideas and see[ing] the fruits of [his] labor.”

Science backs these perspectives. Research from Subhash Chandar, a scholar from Chaudhary Devi Lal University, emphasizes that chess is “an extensively healthy activity” that “ensures a healthier and happier life.” Chandar’s study revealed how regularly playing chess can provide important stimulation to both sides of the brain, leading to improved long-term cognitive performance and fortitude. The dual engagement of the brain’s logical and creative sides builds critical thinking and problem-solving skills, key for the development of high schoolers preparing for their entrance into higher education (or math tests) and the real world.

Chess also builds communities. Like our math team or sports teams, Chess clubs offer a space for people to connect with others over their shared interest–chess. Social exchanges that come as a result of these connections can create friendships beyond chess and foster a sense of belonging. Adding chess into your lives may seem like a challenge but the rules are relatively easy to understand. You may find yourself diving into the various tactics within the opening, middle game, and end game. The addictive sensation will only last a while, but the experiences and community gained will last forever. 

As students at Vestavia look to the future, chess stands as more than a pastime—it’s a tool for growth that will serve them well beyond high school. The skills honed over the chessboard—strategic thinking, patience, resilience—are the same qualities that fuel success in college, careers, and life itself. Embracing chess offers the possibilities of lifelong learning and friendship. So, as students face APUSH DBQs and AP Chemistry problem sets, they can carry the lessons of chess with them, using every calculated move to shape a future of their own making.