Dubai: Dubai Chess and Culture Club has signed an agreement with Dubai National School to establish a first-of-its-kind Chess Academy that will deliver quality chess instruction to schoolchildren.
The agreement was signed by Yahya Mohammed Saleh, Planning and Development Manager of the club, and Malik Daradkeh, Director of Dubai National School.
Under the agreement, the club will create the foundational courses that will be used by the Chess Academy, which will initially cater to male and female primary school students, from first to third grade.
Saleh said the agreement is part of the club's strategy of promoting chess among all segments of society.
“The schools represent a fertile ground in our continuing search of new talents in chess and grooming future champions,” said Saleh.
“Chess also compliments the academic development of the students as the skills they learn from chess and the impact of the sport on spatial understanding and analytical abilities are very useful in subjects such as science and mathematics.”
Saleh said a number of Dubai Chess Club’s champions were graduates of Dubai National School, most notably reigning back-to-back UAE national champion Fide Master (FM) Saeed Ishaq and his brother, Ahmed Ishaq, who won the title in 2007.
Daradkeh underlined the importance of introducing chess in schools as it enhances the students’ intelligence and helps improve their concentration and strategic thinking abilities.
The sport also stimulates the competitiveness of the children in their quest for success, while promoting sportsmanlike conduct.
“Dubai National School is always seeking to build strong partnerships with various institutions to achieve our goal of providing quality education and nurturing the special skills and interests of the students,” said Daradkeh.
“Our partnership with Dubai Chess Club will help us identify new talents among our students and allow us to provide the proper guidance and training to develop their talents and make them more productive citizens.”
