Chess instruction at Cincinnati Rec Centers

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Three organizations are coming together this summer to offer the ancient game of chess to Cincinnati's youth.

The Cincinnati Chess Club along with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and the Chris Collinsworth ProScan Foundation created a program to expose kids to chess.

"It teaches kids to think, to use their reasoning skills and it helps them in the classroom," said Duane Larkin of the Cincinnati Chess Club.

Larkin told 9 News that staff members of the various rec centers attended two instructional sessions, offered by the chess club, so they could in turn teach children the basics of chess.

"Chess is fun because you meet different people who come from all walks of life," said Larkin.

In addition to the instruction the rec centers will have chess boards and instructional materials provided by the Chris Collinsworth ProScan Foundation.

The foundation donated more than 100 boards and pieces to be divided up among the more than 20 rec centers.

The goal says Larkin is to make chess not only more available to kids but to also make it a permanent fixture at the rec centers.

The program is set to begin the week of June 6 and Larkin hopes to put on a free tournament for the kids in November. The Cincinnati Chess Club will also be available to kids this weekend at Kids Fest at Sawyer Point.

"We will have a booth set up with boards so that kids can come and learn," said Larkin.