The Role of Chess in Modern Education
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- Chess develops the mind, increasing strategic, analytical and critical thinking skills. Students who play chess are able to recognize complex patterns and consequently excel in Math and Science.
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- Researchers in the late eighties in the US have confirmed that meaningful knowledge is stored in memory in the form of network and patterns, and these patterns provide the roots essential for recall. Chess develops the ability to recall as Chess players develop complex but efficient structures for memory storage and management.
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- Chess also develops intuition. This can be a useful tool in education. Intuition is generally undervalued in educational terms but can be a very useful tool in both problem solving and real life applications when the steps to solve a problem are not easily apparent. In the words of Garry Kasparov, there are two elements in chess: Tactics and Strategy. “Tactics is knowing what to do when there is something to do and strategy is knowing what to do when there is nothing to do”.
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- Researchers suggest that while students playing chess learn concepts through physical and visual stimuli and correlate these concepts to cognitive patterns, mathematics in the classroom usually involves only pure symbolic manipulation. There is evidence that chess acts as a sort of link in connecting form (symbolic) with understanding (Physical and visual).
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- A researcher of IBM states conclusively that chess enhances reading ability in students because it develops cognitive, attention and visualization skills.
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- Chess teaches concentration, self-discipline, patience and it encourages socialization skills, Chess is fun!
- Chess has been part of the curriculum for most Russian Schools for over 40 years now. More recently, the United States, China, England and some other countries have used chess for various learning techniques in a large number of schools.
Grand Master’s Historical Visit
Dr. Nigel Short the world renowned Chess Grand Master on visit to Pakistan inaugurated The Punjab chess Championship. In the opening ceremony the grand master played consecutive chess games with the winners of “The Little Master of Lahore”, the tournament organized by The Laurelbank School System. M. Mohsin, Wajahat Riaz, Tehreem Yaseen from Shalimar Campus I and Rawail Gul from Alhamra Town Campus were the participants. The grand master appreciated the efforts of The Laurebank School System in providing a platform for young chess players and in introducing chess as a subject.
The Little Master of Lahore – Chess Tournament 2019
The Laurelbank School System has successfully organized its 8th Grand Chess Tournament- The Little Master of Lahore on 23rd Nov. at Park Lane Hotel Gulberg III Lahore. A number of 96 entrants from the Laurelbank School System and other renowned institutions of Lahore participated in the tournament. Mr. Amir Karim, Secretary Chess Association of Punjab was the Chief Guest on the occasion. He awarded cash prizes worth Rs. 60,000/- along with medals and certificates to the winners in three different age categories. Our students Ismail Sikandar (III-R), Ahmed Taha (VIII-MB) from Daroghawala Campus and Eehab Saadat (X-C) from Alhamra Town Campus were among the winners in their respective categories.
Junior Chess Olympiad 2019
Hafsa Qamar from SRC I and Muhammad Sameer from DWC won 2nd & 4th positions respectively in Junior Chess Olympiad Nov. 2019 organised by The Learning Alliance DHA Phase VIII Campus. Below are few glimpses of the event:
Future Chess Masters learning chess under supervision of Former National Chess Master, Mr. Abdul Qayyum, at our Alhamra Town Campus
The Little Master of Lahore – Chess Tournament 2018
The Little Master of Lahore, 7th Grand Chess Tournament was organised by the Laurelbank School System at its Alhamra Town Campus on 24th Nov. A total of 90 students from the Laurelbank School System and from almost all the renowned institutes of Lahore participated in the tournament. International hockey player, Mr. Muhammad Tanveer, Director Sports University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Cash prizes worth Rs.60,000/- along with medals and certificates were awarded to the winners in three different age categories. Muhammad Sameer from Boys Branch Daroghawala Campus stood third in under 14 years of age category.
Saim Ali Sweeps an Under 21 Chess Tournament
An under 21 yrs. of age chess tournament was organized by Beaconhouse College Campus Gulberg on 17th November 2018. Our student Saim Ali aged 12 from class VII BB Shalimar Campus I, won the tournament and received a gold medal. Well Done Saim!
The Little Master of Lahore – Chess Tournament 2017
The 6th Grand Chess Tournament, “The Little Master of Lahore 2017 was held on 25th Nov., 2017. The tournament was held at the Alhamra Town Campus of The Laurelbank School System with the collaboration of the Punjab Chess Association. Around 100 students from renowned institutes of Lahore such as Beaconhouse (Canal & Garden Town Campuses), The Lahore Grammar School (EME, Faisal Town and Johar Town Campuses), The Lahore Garrison, JOR Foundation, University of Lahore, Lahore School of Economics and the hosts Laurelbank School System entered the tournament side by side with few individual participants.
The participants played seven rounds under three age categories i.e. under 10, under 14 and 14 years of age to Adult.
Mr. Amir Karim Secretary Punjab Chess Association and Mr. Imran Mian Director LSS distributed the cash of Rs.60,000/-, medals, prizes and certificates among the winners in all three categories.
The Little Master of Lahore – Chess Tournament 2016
“The Little Master of Lahore” Interschool Grand Chess Tournament 2016 was held on 26th November at the Laurelbank Public School Alhamra Town Campus. Various schools of Lahore such as Aitchison, Beaconhouse (Canal Side, TNS & Garden Town Campuses), Lahore Grammar School (Wapda Town, Liberty, Paragon and Johar Town Campuses), Crescent Model School, Al’ Ilm School, The Lahore Garrison, Unique High School, Nusrat Jahan Institute, The Punjab School, Kips School Johar Town and the host Laurelbank School System participated in the event.
1st place winners in both categories i.e. U-13 and U-17 age group received a gold medal and a cash of Rs. 20,000/- each. 2nd place winners received a silver medal and a cash of Rs. 13,000/- each. 3rd place winners received a bronze medal and a cash of Rs. 8,000/- each. 4th, 5th and 6th place winners received consolation medals and Rs. 3,000/- each. The chief guest Mr. Hanif Qureshi-President Punjab Chess Association and guest of honour Mr. Nayyar Iqbal-Secretary Sports Punjab distributed prizes among the winners.
Chess Tournament “The Little Master of Lahore” 2015
The 4th Inter-School Grand Chess Tournament, “The Little Master of Lahore” 2015 was held on 21st Nov., 2015 at the Alhamra Town Campus of The Laurelbank School System with the collaboration of the Punjab Chess Association. City 42 was our media partner for the event. Students from renowned schools of Lahore including the Beaconhouse School System (Garden Town & Bahria Town Campuses), The New School (DHA), Les Anges Montessori Academy (Gulberg), The Lahore Grammar School (EME, Paragon & Johar Town Campuses), LGS International, Unique High School, Kips, Crescent Model School, Resource Academia, The Lahore Garrison and the hosts Laurelbank School System participated in the event.
The students played under two age categories i.e. under 13 and under 17 age groups. Muhammad Mahen Mughal from LGS Johar Town won the title of “The Little Master of Lahore” with a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- in the U-17 age group. Kamran Khalid Shah from Beaconhouse DHA won the 2nd prize with a cash prize of Rs. 5,000/-. Mehak Gul from Lahore Garrison won the 3rd prize.
In the under 13 age group category Ijlal Amer from Beaconhouse Canal Campus won the title of “The Little Master of Lahore” with a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/-. Talal Nadeem from LGS EME won the 2nd prize and a cash of Rs. 5,000/-. Arban Irfan from LGS Johar Town won the 3rd prize.
Mr. Hanif Qureshi–the former President of the Chess Federation of Pakistan was the chief guest on the occasion. The chief guest spoke on the occasion and distributed prizes among the winners of the tournament. He greatly appreciated the enthusiasm of young chess players and the Laurelbank School System for its efforts in promoting chess in Pakistan.
Chess Tournament “The Little Master of Lahore” 2014
The 3rd Inter-School Grand Chess Tournament ‘The Little Master of Lahore’ 2014 was held on 22nd Nov. at Alhamra Town Campus of The Laurelbank School System in collaboration with the Punjab Chess Association. Students from renowned schools of Lahore including Aitchison College, Beaconhouse School System-Garden Town, TNS, Newlands DHA, Bahria Town, Lahore Grammar School EME, Model Town, Johar Town Campuses, LGS International, LES Anges Montessori Academy, Unique High School and the hosts Laurelbank School System participated in the event.
The students played under two age categories i.e. under 13 and under 17 age groups. Zorez Shabkhez from the Beaconhouse School Garden Town won the title of the ‘The Little Master of Lahore’ with a cash prize of Rs. 8,000/- in U-17 age group. While Mahen Mughal from LGS Johar Town and Mubarik Faisal from Unique School won 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
In the under 13 age group category Rana Ifham Sardar LGS EME won the title of ‘The Little Master of Lahore’ with a cash prize of Rs. 8,000/- while Taha Maqsood from Alhamra Town Campus of Laurelbank and Muhammad Haroon Masood from Aitchison won 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
Mr. Hanif Qureshi–President Chess Federation of Pakistan was the chief guest on the occasion. The chief guest distributed prizes among the winners of the tournament. He greatly appreciated the enthusiasm of young chess players and The Laurelbank School System for its efforts in promoting chess in Pakistan.
Chess Tournament “The Little Master of Lahore” 2012
The 2nd Inter-School Grand Chess Tournament ‘The Little Master of Lahore’ 2012 was held from 15th – 17th Nov. 2012 at The Alhamra Town Campus of The Laurelbank School System. Students from renowned schools of Lahore including Aitchison College, Beaconhouse School System-Garden Town and Gulberg Campuses, LGS-Paragon and Johar Town Campuses, NGS-Gulberg Campus, LACAS-Paragon Campus, Unique High School, Bloomfield Hall Johar Town, Les Anges Montessori Academy, Lahore Garrision-Township and The Laurelbank School System participated in this well contested event.
The students played under two age categories i.e. under 13 and under 17 age groups. Muhammad Shehryar from The Laurelbank School System won the title of ‘The Little Master of Lahore’ and a cash prize of Rs. 8,000/- in U-17 age group. Zorez Shabkhez and Ibreez Shabkhez from the Beaconhouse School System won 2nd and 3rd positions with cash prizes of Rs. 4,000/- and Rs. 2,000/- respectively.
In under 13 age group Naukhez Shabkhez from the Beaconhouse School System won the title of ‘The Little Master of Lahore’ with a cash prize of Rs. 8,000/- while Mehak Gul from the Lahore Garrision-Township and Ahmad Mubarik Faisal from Unique High School-Faisal Town received Rs. 4,000/- and Rs. 2,000/- for securing 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
The participants who got 4th, 5th and 6th positions also received cash prizes of Rs. 1,000/- each in both the categories.
Mr. Amir Bhatti ‘President Punjab Chess Association, Mr. Johar Saleem’ Pakistan’s Ambassador to Bahrain and Mrs. Rukhsana Sarwar-Advocate High Court were chief guests on the occasion. The chief guests distributed prizes among the winners of the tournament. They appreciated the young chess players and the LSS efforts for promoting chess in Pakistan.
Chess Tournament “The Little Master of Lahore” 2011
For the first time in LSS history a grand chess tournament was held at The Laurelbank School System, Alhamra Town Campus from 17-19 November, 2011 in collaboration with The Punjab Chess Association. It was one of the largest chess tournaments ever held in Pakistan at the school level.
A total of eighty-six students from the Aitchison School, Garrison Academy, LGS EME Campuses, LGS Township, LGS Model Town, LGS Girls & Boys (Johar Town), Beaconhouse Johar Town, Garden Town & Canal Side Campus, The Government College University, The Punjab School and Laurelbank School System participated in this well contested tournament.
The Chief Guest Mr. Amir Bhatti, President Punjab Chess Association appreciated The Laurelbank Public School for organizing this mega event. He gave away prizes to the “Little Masters” of Lahore. They were awarded Rs. 7000/- and a Gold medal each. The Runners up Abdul Fatir LGS EME and Tahir Mahmood of Laurelbank School System were awarded Silver medals along with cash of Rs. 3000/- each. The 3rd position holder Arbaz Omar of the Aitchison School and Wijdan Sehar of LGS EME were awarded with bronze medals and cash prizes of Rs. 1000/- each.
The President, Punjab Chess Association, further stated that the cash prizes and efforts of The Laurelbank School System would go a long way in promoting chess in the country. He hoped that this would lead to a chain reaction effect boosting the chances of Pakistan bringing laurels for the country in this mind sport.
The Punjab Chess Association awarded consolation prizes to the 4th, 5th and 6th position holders in both the categories and offered all the winners free entry in their upcoming Chess Tournaments.
LSS Chess Club
Laurelbank Public School has engaged National Chess Master of Pakistan and Olympian Mr. Abdul Qayyum Rana as a coach for our Chess Club. He has vast coaching experience. He has been Punjab Champion (4 times) and Lahore Champion (5 times).