{"id":30340,"date":"2013-02-03T23:49:10","date_gmt":"2013-02-04T07:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.57.196.122\/~gdatwofo\/theavtimes\/?p=30340"},"modified":"2013-02-06T15:50:10","modified_gmt":"2013-02-06T23:50:10","slug":"40-kids-drawn-to-av-chess-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2013\/02\/03\/40-kids-drawn-to-av-chess-tournament\/","title":{"rendered":"40 kids drawn to AV Chess Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"United<\/a>
United States Chess Federation National Chess Master Matt Mahowald provides a Simultaneous Exhibition,
playing a dozen children at once.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

PALMDALE \u2013 They came from 15 different schools around the Antelope Valley and converged on the Palmdale Learning Plaza gymnasium, not for basketball or volleyball, but for a chess tournament!<\/p>\n

Forty students in grades K-8 arrived at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 2) for the all-day event, which included a pizza lunch and an Awards Ceremony with trophies and certificates.<\/p>\n

The group was introduced to one chess piece, taught how it moved, and shown a Chess Mini Game, which used that piece. Then, they went to the competition tables and played that Mini Game in a ladder-style tournament.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The participants focus and concentrate as they receive a chess lesson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This process was repeated for each of the six different kinds of chess pieces, which meant that each child played dozens of games during the day. There was also time built in for full games of chess.<\/p>\n

Students then gathered for the Awards Ceremony, where every participant in the Chess Tournament received a Participation Certificate and 15 students earned trophies.<\/p>\n

Saturday’s Chess Mini-Game Tournament was organized by Daa Anne Mahowald, who has been teaching and coaching chess for more than 25 years.<\/p>\n

\"Daa<\/a>
Daa Anne Mahowald takes advantage of a teachable moment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mahowald and her husband, Matt Mahowald (an engineer with Boeing on Edwards), have worked hard to foster Scholastic Chess in the community, since moving to the Antelope Valley in 2010.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s well known that chess improves math and reading abilities.\u00a0 Chess also enables children to gain forward thinking and planning skills,” Daa Mahowald said. \u201cIt allows them to fail in a safe environment and learn from their mistakes.\u00a0 It also provides opportunities for success and positive social encounters.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the Chess Mini-Game Tournament Saturday offered all those benefits and more.<\/p>\n

\"Eighth<\/a>
Eighth grader Tivon Newman is recognized<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cYou could virtually see them learning as the day progressed. Many parents stayed part or all of the day to observe,” Daa Mahowald said. \u201cBoth during and after the event, they commented on how valuable they thought the experience is.\u00a0 Many were excited to see their children having fun in a learning environment.\u00a0 The children themselves were all about the fun and, of course, the trophies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir comments as they left at the end of the event were all about, \u2018When’s the next one?\u2019 and \u2018I can’t wait!\u2019\u201d Mahowald added.<\/p>\n

Many participants plan to teach their parents or friends the Chess Mini Games they learned Saturday, spreading the interest in Scholastic Chess even further, Mahowald said.<\/p>\n

And the winners are\u2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n