Well at least Kiefer Sutherland does. In this article we learn that he does like chess.
Mary Lynn Rajskub, known to the viewers as Chloe O’Brian, revealed some facts about her co star Kiefer Sutherland. According to her, the talented actor loves playing chess and spends time in the game whenever he can manage.
Came across an article by Chess Writer, Shelby Lyman, quoting Ben Franklin’s view of Chess.
In his late-18th-century essay “The Morals of Chess,” Benjamin Franklin declared that life is a variation of the game.
“We learn by chess the habit of not being discouraged by present appearances in the state of our affairs, the habit of hoping for a favourable change, and that of persevering in the search of resources,” he said.
“The game is so full of events, . . . and one so frequently, after long contemplation, discovers the means of extricating one’s self from a supposed insurmountable difficulty.”
So very true.
A cool article about a chess program in Birmingham, Alabama.
Youth in Birmingham Learning Chess
You can probably tell this isn’t your typical chess class, which one might assume (accurately enough) would be quiet, sterile and sedentary. The philosophy of Brooks’ 3-year-old Knight School, which holds afternoon chess classes at Birmingham-area schools, is that children learn to play better in an exciting atmosphere with fast, timed games, computer-generated big-screen tests and a reward system that confers Black Belt status on the highest achievers.
An attempt to answer the question at sports.inquirer.net. Not sure that there is a definitive answer to the question but the article does offer up some theories.
Parents and teachers around the globe are very proud when their children learn to play chess. They know it’s good for their kids. But why? Why is excellent chess instruction so beneficial to educational growth?
Let’s start with some basics. Kids do not get smarter when they’re forced to learn things that don’t interest them. They lose interest when they are not challenged. They also lose interest when they don’t understand what is being taught.
The best chess teachers are challenging and fun, while smoothly increasing the level of skill and understanding of each student. When teaching chess is approached that way, the kids remain interested and they improve. Studies done around the world prove that teaching chess to children has a very positive impact on their lives.
Regardless of the reason, chess is just a great game to learn. Start your kids early.