Castlehill chess club plays to win

Almost 200 trophies sit atop bookcases and bookshelves and on tables in three rooms, including the principal's office, with most of the awards representing the school's dominance in state and national chess competitions.

Last month, Castlehill won the 14th annual Arizona State Grade Championship for fifth-graders, sponsored by the Southern Arizona Chess Association.

The championship is one of 12 state titles the school has won since 2002, as well as a national championship in 2004, said Levon Altounian, Castlehill chess coach.

Chess is an integral part of the school's culture, with about 45 students who participate in the after-school chess club. Some children are as young as 3, Altounian said.

About 15 of the 45 students play in chess tournaments, he said.

Chess also is part of the curriculum for pre-kindergarten through first-grade students, Principal Arline Schlossberg said.

"Team spirit is a very important concept to many schools. Having an intellectual team sends a message to people who think about coming to our school," Schlossberg said.

Altounian comes to the school, at 3225 N. Craycroft Road, four days a week, and he also oversees Arizona Chess for Schools, an organization that provides chess services to Tucson-area students.

Altounian likes to train and recruit players who stand out on the chess club, he said.

"If you have 50 kids, some will quit, some won't be strong, but others will be the cream of the chess society," said Altounian, who is considered one of the top 40 chess players in the United States. "The more kids you start with, the more chance you have to win."

Chess requires a lot of study and practice, but Altounian still tries to find ways to make the game fun, he said.

"The real key is to not make it feel like work, but something that comes from the heart," he said. "It has to be a combination of work, fun and being disciplined to do it constantly."

Most students need a year to learn and study the game before they see progress, he said.

"In a year, we'll do the review. Usually, once they put work into it, they start winning," he said. "The hard thing is the initial push to get them motivated to do it on their own."

Altounian and Schlossberg agree that there is a correlation between strong chess players and strong students, especially in math.

"The chess game is basically a battle of the minds. It's a game of societies," Altounian said. "It's about using resources in the best way possible to benefit your cause."

Schlossberg said chess gives students the opportunity to use different parts of their brains.

"When I educate a child, I don't want to leave out any part of the brain," she said. "I want them to use every part of the mind."

Some of the team members have learned their own lessons from chess.

"I've learned it takes a lot of concentration and focus, and if you get serious about it, it can be really fun," said second-grader Leamon Crooms, 8.

Leamon said he has been playing for five years and competing for three.

His keys to success include studying a lot and knowing his competition.

"Usually I study for a long time, and in between games I try to focus and play other people," Leamon said.

Chess has helped fifth-grader Josh Pennock, 10, become more patient, especially with his math problems.

"If it's a long problem, you won't get as frustrated," Josh said.

Patience also helps Josh during his games, when he tries to capitalize on his opponents' mistakes, he said.

"Look at the whole board and just wait until you find a good move," he said. "If there is no good move, wait until he makes a mistake."

"The real key is to not make it feel like work, but something that comes from the heart."

Levon Altounian, chess coach at Castlehill Country Day School