Every Saturday afternoon at the Mystic & Noank Library, a considerable amount of children gather with a growing interest in chess. Board of trustees President Nancy Hevenor said the program is led and taught by North Stonington resident Adam Melch and has been a true and encouraging inspiration for the kids.
Retired from the Navy for 10 years and employed as an engineer by Amgen, Inc. in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, Melch had trouble remembering when the chess program started.
“I don’t recall the exact date...but it was some time last summer, probably in July,” Melch said in an e-mail. “I had been going to Bartleby’s coffee house in Mystic, where Harvey Mandel, the owner, has a chess club that meets Tuesday and Thursday nights.”
He said Mandel was approached by a mother in Mystic who home-schooled her son and wanted to start a chess program for kids at the local library.
“She asked Harvey if he knew anyone who would be interested,” Melch said. “I’m a fairly strong player and I have been playing a long time, so Harvey volunteered my name.”
Melch said he became involved because he really enjoys chess as a hobby. As a kid, he couldn’t find any place to go to become a strong chess player.
“I thought that if there were some interested kids in Mystic, this might be an opportunity for them,” he said. “I also do it for free and if you look around on the Web, you can find various chess camps that will charge parents a few hundred dollars to provide a place where their kids can learn chess.”
Melch said at times he will have 20 kids in the class, ranging from second grade to high school, and that he tries to run tournaments every other week. On the off weeks, he said, he coaches on how to move the different pieces and how to use different strategies.
“Lately the numbers have tapered off,” he continued, “possibly because of school or other activities, and I would like to encourage more kids to come…As far as how the program is going, I feel that the goal is for the kids to have fun, and if they come and have fun, it’s a success, regardless of how many kids attend or whether they become strong players,” Melch added. “Also, the library likes the program because it provides something for boys to do.”
While starting the program, Melch said he bought new chess sets and provided prizes for the chess tournaments, but with the expenses adding up, he’s on the lookout for sponsorship and support from anyone who would be willing to contribute. He’s received help from the library but he’s looking for gift certificates, small toys, chess books, and any other type of support he could use for the program.
Melch said although chess is not a very popular game in the U.S. and not really considered a children’s game, more books have been written about chess than any other game, and there are literally millions of games available in online databases.
“To play a strong game requires an exceptional memory, deep concentration, and a tremendous amount of study,” he added. “But the good thing about chess is that you can enjoy it even if you are not a top class player. Some people like the competitive aspect. Some people like the creative aspect. When you move the pieces around you are creating new plans and patterns, and this is something you can do as soon as you learn the moves.”
For more information, call the Mystic & Noank Library at 536-7721.