WHAT CHESS CAN DO FOR SOCIETY, AND WHY

LEONTXO GARCÍA

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10 REASONS TO PROMOTE CHESS

CHESS DEVELOPS INTELLIGENCE

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87 YEARS OF WORLDWIDE RESEARCH

CHILDREN WHO PLAY CHESS

Better academic performance Develop greater intelligence

VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS

Mathematics (Trier)Self selection bias

Reading (why?)

CHESS DEVELOPES…CONCENTRATION MEMORY

LOGICAL THINKING

SCIENTIFIC THINKING

SELF CRITICISM PERSONAL RESPONSABILITY

CHESS DEVELOPES…MOTIVATION SELF ESTEEM PLANNING

FORESEEING THE CONSEQUENCES

CALCULATION POWER IMAGINATION

CHESS DEVELOPES…CREATIVITY PATIENCE DISCIPLINE

TENACITYMULTI-FOCUS RISK

CALCULATION

CHESS DEVELOPES…FAIR PLAY COLD BLOOD COMPLIANCE

WITH THE RULES

RESPECT THE OPPONENT

SPATIAL VISUALIZATION

FIGHTING SPIRIT

87 YEARS OF WORLDWIDE RESEARCH

“LEARNING BY PLAYING AND PLAYING BY LEARNING”

KINDERGARTEN (2-5YEARS OLD) IN URUGUAY AND COLOMBIA

CHESS FOR TEACHING VALUES

Spanish Journal of Psychology, 2012. Aciego, García and Betancort

Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, España.

170 chess players

60 football and basketball players

Boys and girls, 6 -16 years old

Conclusion: Chess players get better results on both, cognitive AND

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

GARDNER´S EIGHT INTELLIGENCES

1. LINGUISTIC2. LOGICAL-MATHEMATICAL3. SPATIAL4. INTRAPERSONAL5. INTERPERSONAL

6. MUSICAL7. BODILY-KINESTHETIC8. NATURALISTIC

CHESS

PROF. MARINA RESEARCH GROUP

EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE

COGNITIVE INTELLIGENCE

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

2CHESS: THE BEST GYM FOR THE MIND

LIFE EXPECTANCY RISES DRAMATICALLY

(+ 80)

EXCELLENT NEWS HUGE EXPENSE

PRIORITY GOAL

Improve elderly people´s health

CHESS = PREVENTIVE TOOL

ELDER CHILDREN

MIGUEL NAJDORFHe died at 87

VASILI SMYSLOVHe died at 89

VIKTOR KORCHNOI82 YEARS OLD

JOHAN VAN HULST102 YEARS OLD

CHESS vs. ALZHEIMER

MEMORY CONCENTRATION

Wilson & others, Neurology, 2007:

Conclusion: “Level of cognitively stimulating activity in old age is related to risk of developing dementia".

Verghese & others (A. Einstein College)

469 subjects (older than 75)

1980 – 2001

Better results: chess/bridge and dancing

THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, 2003

Dr. Verghese

“ The day may be not far off when doctors recommend a game of chess and the daily crossword along with physical exercise and a healthy diet ".

SIGNIFICANT INDICATION

Only 15 cases out of one million people

“¿Have you ever met a chess player with Alzheimer´s?”

PEOPLE OLDER THAN 65 WITH DEMENTIA IN THE UK, USA and SPAIN: 8-10%

Archer &others, Neurocase 2005:

“An almost asymptomatic British chess player died with beta-amyloid plaques indicating terminal Alzheimer´s”.

CONCLUSSION:

The frequent practice of chess slows brain ageing, and can prevent or delay Alzheimer´s

VOLUNTEER CHESS PLAYERS

BRAIN DONATION LUMBAR PUNCTURE

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OTHER SOCIAL APPLICATIONS

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OTHER SOCIAL USES

HYPERACTIV (ADHD) AUTISTICS ASPERGER SYNDROME CHILDREN WITH CANCER DOWN SYNDROM BLIND/DEAF-MUTE/DISABLED

OTHER SOCIAL USES

UNEMPLOYED INDIGENTS SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS PRISONS REFORMATORIES (remand homes) DRUG ADDICTS REHABILITATION

INTERNET

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UNIVERSAL5

178 COUNTRIES!

ANY AGE IS GOOD FOR CHESS

(3-103 YEARS OLD)GRANDPARENTS TEACH GRANDCHILDREN

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LOW COST

• CHESS SET: 10 GBP

• A GOOD FRIEND, IS A PRICELESS ASSET

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GOOD IMAGE

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CHESS = INTELLIGENCE

HISTORY

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MORE THAN 1,500 YEARS OF HISTORY

INTERESTING CHARACTERS

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ART

SCIENCE

WUNDERKIND

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CLOSE TO THE INFINITE

MORE GAMES THAN ATOMS IN THE UNIVERSE

Goethe:

“ CHESS IS A TOUCHSTONE OF THE

INTELLECT ”

HINDU PROVERB:

“ CHESS IS A SEA IN WHICH A GNAT MAY

DRINK AND AN ELEPHANT MAY BATHE ”

TARRASCH:

“ CHESS, LIKE LOVE, LIKE MUSIC, HAS THE POWER TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY ”