HUNTSVILLE — The 10-year anniversary dinner of the Madison City Chess League saw players, parents, and supporters turn out to meet FM Mike Klein, better known as Fun Master Mike on ChessKid.com.
Sunday’s event at the Jackson Center saw Klein praise the impact chess can have.
“We’re here is to celebrate 10 years of the MCCL and what the game of chess can do for people, especially kids, long after the pieces are put away,” said Klein, the keynote speaker.
Klein said there is no other game or sport where players are entirely on their own, where “absolutely every decision is critical”.
“We often ‘sell’ chess that it teaches spatial reasoning and such, but I would argue that self-reliance is the biggest character trait enhanced by the game,” he said. “And the Madison City Chess League has been giving that unique gift to so many in the community.”
The first meeting of the Madison City Chess League was July 22, 2013, at the Rainbow Landing Clubhouse; 14 Madison students attended. Madison County Commissioner Steve Haraway donated funds for the MCCL to purchase its first chess sets.
Within six months, the MCCL outgrew the space and moved to Monday nights in the Hogan Family YMCA before moving again to Dublin Park.
In January 2018, MCCL moved to the Madison Library where Monday night chess continues 6-7:30 p.m.
Praising the many accomplishments of the MCCL, Klein said the league has not only been building up chess skills for the last decade, but also the community.
Klein also praised the drive to get more girls and women involved in chess, and effort that have led to recognition and a grant from the US Chess Federation.
He applauded MCCL President Ranae Bartlett’s efforts to share chess in the Madison community.
“I’m also going to use this as an aside to personally thank Ranae Bartlett who is tireless, leads by example, and is committed to helping all kids through the game of chess,” he said.
Madison now has the largest concentration of girls playing chess in Alabama.
“The Madison City Chess League has given tens of thousands of kids their own ability to think analytically and build up strong self-reliance,” said Klein. “There will be, therefore, millions and billions of better decisions made in their later lives, both large and small.
“So here’s to 10 more years and 10,000 more kids playing chess.”
To be part of the next 10 years of the Madison City Chess League, sign up at madisonchess.com.
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