SGChess Blog #9 – From Pawns to Queens: A New Chess in Schools Initiative
The Singapore Chess Federation “SCF” is delighted to announce our latest project, “From Pawns to Queens”, a chess in schools initiative in collaboration with Greenwood Primary School. This project aims to trial a large-scale beginner chess programme to promote chess learning among the school’s Primary 1 and Primary 2 students, with the longer term goal to make chess a regular feature in the school’s programmes at all levels, and use chess learning to teach essential cognitive and life skills.
455 Primary 1 and 2 students attending a mass demonstration by Dijana Dengler at Greenwood Primary School
The idea of the name “From Pawns to Queens” stemmed from the literal meaning of teaching our young students how to move all the pieces. Beyond mastering the game, our mission is to inspire children to embrace the concepts of empowerment, growth, and development—both on and off the board. Just as pawns have the potential to become queens through strategic effort and perseverance, we encourage kids to realise their own potential, develop confidence, and grow into empowered individuals.
The project started with a chess camp that took place on the 4th and 5th of November. Each day began with a mass briefing in the school hall, with Woman FIDE Master Dijana Dengler explaining the origin of chess and the absolute basics to 455 Primary 1 and 2 (aged 7 and 8) students. Dijana, a councilor in FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission and a chess teacher at Overseas Family School is highly experienced and skilled at teaching the basics of chess to young children. Her entertaining presentation, with the help of FT Philipp Ziegler, also from Overseas Family School, captivated the audiences who eagerly engaged with her whenever questions were posed.
Dijana and Philipp from Overseas Family School provided engaging teaching sessions to the Greenwood Primary kids
After 45 minutes, the group returned to their respective classrooms for a more in-depth learning experience. The SCF team, together with 16 volunteers from the chess community, then spent the next 2 hours continuing the teaching process, and allowing the children to experience playing chess against each other for the first time.
The Singapore Chess Community came together to launch this programme
The feedback from the school was highly positive. Many of the kids expressed joy at learning the game and wished to learn more after the training camp. SCF hopes to continue our collaboration with Greenwood Primary School in bringing more chess to its students.
The SCF is heartened that the Singapore Chess Community has stepped forward to support this programme. We sincerely thank the following partners:
Greenwood Primary School Team
- Principal: Mrs. Tricilia Chua
- Vice-Principal: Mr. Tan Kar Wee
- Year Head/Lower Primary: Mrs. Sharon Teo
- Assistant Year Head/Lower Primary: Mdm Celeste Teo
Chess Academies and teachers
- Ms Elisha Paciencia, Ms Ericka Paciencia, Mr Aziz Abdul from Chess Grande
- Mr. Osric Mooi
- WIM Anjela Khegay
- FM Dino Ballecer from Chess Whizdom
- Mr. Arlan Cabe from Chess Castle Pte Ltd
- Mr. Jedidiah Huang from The Jedi Chess Academy
Chess enthusiasts
- Ms Vanessa Mcconville, Ms Dijana Dengler and Mr. Philipp Ziegler from Overseas Family School
- Mr. Peter Dengler from London Stock Exchange Group
- Students Mr. Andrew Tan, Ms. Eden Pang, Ms. Audelle Sim, Mr. Joash Chan and Ms. Dayana Chin
For more information regarding From Pawns to Queens and other SCF social initiatives, please contact socialprojects@singaporechess.org.sg