In a quiet corner of the Hinckley Library, several elementary students—Andie, Olivia and Maggie—have found themselves surrounded by chess boards and a group of players far older than them. What began as a casual interest quickly turned into a passion that has taken them to chess tournaments and tests their mettle against players years ahead of their age.
Olivia, a 4th grader at HBRES with an affinity for puzzles, taught herself how to play chess 4 years ago on her tablet while waiting for her mom and brothers at EI therapy sessions. She soon purchased a chess set and taught her sister, Maggie, how to play too. Olivia has found her confidence! “I like how every game is like solving a new puzzle,” Olivia said. Olivia learned an opening strategy called the Colle System and immediately used it on a game with her dad and ended up winning the game!
Andie, also a 4th grader with a love for strategy games, joined the chess club at the encouragement of Olivia. Olivia introduced Andie how to play chess last year and she has been avidly playing for the past year. They play an app called Chess Kid that helps them learn moves through practice, games, puzzles, and challenges. Andie quickly gained recognition for her ability to think several moves ahead, often surprising older players. “I just try to imagine what they’re going to do next,” she said with a grin. At Andie’s most recent tournament, she won one game against a middle school boy last weekend in 10 moves!
Maggie, a 3rd grader here at HBRES, joined the chess club to hang out with her sister and several friends. She learned to play from her older sister, Olivia, and has been playing for 3 years. “It’s not just about winning; it’s about learning from each other,” she said. At a local tournament last weekend with middle school and high school students, Maggie played a game against an 8th grader. She lost, but she made him really work for that win, the game lasted an hour and a half!
Taking on the Tournaments
The trio’s dedication caught the attention of their coaches (Coach David and Coach Austin) and parents, who encouraged them to participate in local tournaments. Competing against older students can be daunting, but Olivia, Andie, and Maggie prove that age is no barrier to success. Together, they celebrate victories and learn from defeats, supporting each other every step of the way.
Inspiring a Community
Their story has inspired more students to join the chess club, showing that with curiosity, effort, and teamwork, anyone can succeed in the game of kings. Olivia, Andie and Maggie have not only grown as players but have also become role models for their peers, proving that age doesn’t define ability. Max, Ben and Jack Lini (all HBRES students) enjoy playing with the girls at Chess Club on Wednesday evenings at the Hinckley Library. They would love to invite anyone with interest in learning the game of chess or playing chess to join them at Chess Club. They meet Wednesdays from 6:30- 7:30 PM at the Hinckley Library. Whether it’s about mastering the Sicilian Defense or simply enjoying the game, these three young strategists remind us that chess is not just a game but a journey of growth and discovery.
