Yes2Chess: A Clever Move by Barclaycard

Introduction by IM Malcolm Pein

Yes2Chess is a new Internet Chess Community for primary/elementary schoolchildren, which offers pupils the opportunity to play chess online with children from other countries and also to compete in a tournament. This innovative event will see the participation of primary/elementary schools from eight countries: UK, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and the USA. Between now and July 2014, schools will compete for the grand prize of an all-expenses paid trip to London for the finals day. One or more schools from each country will be invited to London, and there are loads of other prizes for schools who reach the knockout stage.

Best of all, every child you register for Yes2Chess will receive free membership to our private and moderated area on Playchess.com, where they can play and learn at any time. This membership will remain active until July 2014, even if they do not compete in the tournament. Later in 2014 the Yes2Chess website will feature free chess lessons, some of them interactive, to help improve children's chess skills or to teach them the very basics of chess.

There are many educational and social benefits of learning chess in primary/elementary schools. Chess develops children’s critical thinking and logical reasoning skills, whilst helping to improve their memory and concentration. The game also facilitates children’s emotional development by promoting imagination and creativity, teaching that success rewards hard work, building self-esteem and encouraging good sportsmanship. The European Parliament recognised this by endorsing the Chess in Schools programme in 2012, noting that chess ‘contributes to (EU) policy objectives such as social integration and combating discrimination’. The most important thing for us however is that children enjoy themselves.

Malcolm Pein is an International Master of chess, having won the title in 1986. As well as being a master chess player, Malcolm is also the Chief Executive of Chess in Schools and Communities, a UK charity that focuses on bringing chess to young players, an author of numerous chess books, and writes a daily chess column in The Daily Telegraph – UK newspaper.

At the heart of Barclaycard’s Citizenship agenda is the commitment to helping people achieve their ambitions in the right way. Yes2Chess sees Barclaycard supporting the social and academic development of the next generation, involving 10,000 children in eight countries.

Yes2Chess is a fun and exciting way for children to play games, learn new skills and meet new people from around the world. Working in a team, they will play chess with children from schools around the country, with each team having the chance to play in the tournament final – a face-to-face game taking place in London with top teams from across the globe!

How to get involved

If Yes2Chess sounds like something your students would enjoy, here’s all they need to do to be a part of it:

1. Create a chess team made up of five people
2. Ask their teacher to register the team – click here to register.

It’s that simple! If you have any questions about Yes2Chess you might find this FAQ section useful.

All that’s left to say is enjoy the tournament; we wish everyone the best of luck and hope you have a great time. And who knows… one of your students may be a Grandmaster in the making!

Information for parents and teachers

Yes2Chess is an Internet Chess Tournament that will be running during the 2013/14 academic year. The tournament is open to primary/elementary schools from eight countries: UK, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and the USA. Teams from each country will battle it out using our secure online chess software, in order to determine one regional champion from each country. These eight remaining teams will then be invited to an all-expenses-paid Finals Weekend in London, to determine the tournament champions.

One school from each country will qualify for Finals Day, to be held in London between 6th and 8th June 2014. They will be accompanied by a maximum of three teachers, coaches or parents. All travel and accommodation costs will be paid by the tournament organisers. Each participant will enjoy a full range of chess and leisure activities, including a simultaneous with a Grandmaster.

How will it benefit my child?

Yes2Chess offers your child numerous benefits. Firstly, it provides a safe environment where your child can learn new skills such as strategic and critical thinking, make new friends, and have fun along the way. Studies have shown that children who play chess develop skills that will help them throughout their life, and can provide the building blocks to a successful future.

Additionally, they will also gain access to a subscription of the ChessBase software – completely free of charge (your free memberships will last until July 2014). This means your child can continue to practice and develop their skills even after the tournament has finished.

My child's school isn't involved with Yes2Chess. Can my child still take part?

Yes2Chess is open to all children aged 7 to 11, as long as the eligibility criteria is met. However, every child needs to play as part of a team of five and apply through their school. If you would like your child to take part in the tournament and their school is not involved, inform the school about Yes2Chess so that they can set up a team and register for the tournament.

Visit the Barclaycard Yes2Chess web site