It couldn't have been better: 1,300 schoolchildren played chess on Bremen's market square on Thursday! A new record for the Bremen school chess project "Schach macht schlau!" School Senator Sascha Karolin Aulepp was delighted "that so many children from Bremen and Bremerhaven transformed Bremen's market square into a giant chessboard" and opened the tournament together with project initiator Marco Bode. This year, the children from Burgdamm School won the big challenge cup!

For the fifth time, the chess year in Bremen was concluded with the Market Square Tournament: 1,300 schoolchildren played outdoors in front of Bremen City Hall.

Marco Bode, German footballer and coach, talks about the project he co-initiated

School Senator Sascha Karolin Aulepp welcomes the students

Rainer Woisin, ChessBase (on the right)

Divided into four teams named after the Bremen Town Musicians – Donkey, Dog, Cat and Rooster – four rounds were played.

The children scored points in a simple way: each win earned them two walnuts, which they then threw into large Plexiglas tubes. Great fun!

Fritz and Chesster - Part 2

Jump into chess action, move by move, to rescue Chesster from deep within King Black’s castle. Join Fritz and Bianca in a thrilling chess adventure as they enter rooms of the castle, where each challenge will help you sharpen skills and prepare for the ultimate showdown.

Fritz and Chesster - Part 3 Chess for winners

This unforgettable chess adventure is designed to advance young chess player’s skills, move by move. Discover mini-games, brain-twisters and more at every attraction. Pick up chess tips and skills as you ride in bumper cars and the Ferris wheel. Polish up your chess strategy and tactics, opening, middle game and endgame and use what you’ve learned to win. You’ll have lots of fun while you learn more about the serious business of playing – and winning – chess!

Ultimately, it was clear to everyone which tube contained more walnuts. Presenter Daniel Haselbach (Radio Bremen) created a lively atmosphere in the square. Before each round, all the children shouted enthusiastically: "Chess makes smart!"

Team Dog won this year. Then a draw was held to determine which of the schools in Team Dog would win the Challenge Cup. The Burgdamm School, represented by classes 1c and 2c, was delighted to win.

All the children received a "Schach macht schlau" T-shirt, which also served as a ticket for the Bremen tram. The tram has supported the tournament since its inception. Other supporters include Werder Bremen, BLG Logistics, Bremische Volksbank, Schütting Stiftung, ChessBase and Schach Magazin 64. The German Chess Youth is a new partner in the project. The new chairman, Finn Petersen, set off at 5 a.m. with three helpers from Münster, arriving in Bremen in time to assist with setting up and act as referees. They said: “Great event! There are lots of ideas on how to make school chess even more visible and accessible nationwide.” The helpers from Werder Bremen's chess department and a team from ChessBase were, of course, back on the market square! 

The "Schach macht schlau" project currently reaches 5,350 children! In 221 primary school classes, there is one hour of chess lessons per week! All classes receive chess boards, demo boards, Fritz & Fertig software and Fritz & Fertig workbooks. The project is organised by the association "Das Erste Buch" (The First Book)! 

Website of the project: https://schachmachtschlau.de/