>>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS STAFF, ITS BOARD, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ >>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE".

I´M YOUR HOST, SHAWNA RICHARDS.

I INVITE TO YOU JOIN ME AS WE CELEBRATE VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS AND THEIR TALENT.

WE´LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

A STORY TELLER IS IN EACH OF US AND I´M SO EXCITED TO GIVE A HOMEGROWN STORY TELLER A HANCE TO TELL THEIR STORIES TONIGHT´S BOOK IS CHESS, A GAME FOR ALL AGES AND I´M SO EXCITED TO INVITE ITS AUTHOR.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE, AND I WANTED TO THANK KYLE, TOO, ALSO FOR INVITING ME.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT´S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NOT ONLY TALK ABOUT YOUR BOOK, BUT TO LEARN SOME CHESS.

>> WE´RE GOING LEARN SOME CHESS TODAY.

>> BEFORE WE DO I´D LIKE THE YOU CAN THE ABOUT YOU.

>> I WAS BORN IN ISLAND NEVIS AND CAME TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AS A YOUNGSTER.

THERE ARE SOME STORIES, BUT IN TERMS OF LEARNINGS CHESS, WHEN I CAME HERE FIRST I TRIED TO GET INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL.

I COULDN´T GET INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL.

THAT´S ANOTHER SIDE OF ME.

I EVENTUALLY GOT IN, GRADUATED FROM CHARLOTTE AMALIE AND BECAME A TEACHER IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, BECAME A PRINCIPLE OF THE PUB LIB SCHOOL.

>> WHAT SUBJECT DID YOU TEACH?

>> I TAUGHT U.S. HISTORY, CARIBBEAN HISTORY, SOCIAL STUDIES.

I BECAME THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT.

THEN I BECAME ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT THE CHARLOTTE AMALIE HIGH SCHOOL WITH MY MENTOR.

THEN I APPLY FOR THE PRINCIPLE POSITION AT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT BACK TO WORK IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND WHEN I TAUGHT I BECAME PRINCIPAL FROM 1995 TO 2001.

THE BEGINNING OF 2001.

>> AWESOME.

>> AND I DID A LOT OF WORK THEN.

AND SINCE I RETIRED I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF YOUNGSTERS WITH CHESS.

DR. LINDA CRICKY, FORMER COMMISSION OF EDUCATION, I RETIRED, SHE CALLED ME ONE DAY AND SAID MR. WILKSON I HEARD VALUE OF CHESS IN STUDENTS AND WE GOT TOGETHER, WROTE A SMALL GRANT.

THE PROGRAM GREW TO WHERE WE HAD TEN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

EVEN THOUGH DR. CRICKY MOVED TO THE MAINLAND I RECRUIT ADULTS, YOUNGSTERS WHO WANT TO WORK AS COACHES.

AND EVERY YEAR ON AVERAGE I HAVE ABOUT 100 STUDENTS.

AND I ALSO WAS A MEMBER OF THE UVI BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

I WAS THERE FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.

>> OKAY.

SO YOUR BACKGROUND AS A TEACHER IS REALLY IN HISTORY.

>> HISTORY, EDUCATION.

>> EDUCATION.

SO WHAT CONNECTIONS OR WHAT CARRIED YOU FROM HISTORY TO CHESS, OR WAS IT THE RICH HISTORY OF CHESS THAT PULLED YOU IN?

>> WHEN I WAS SENDING CVI, I WAS 19 YEARS OLD.

I WISH I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE GAME WHEN YOU´RE YOUNGER BECAUSE WHEN YOU´RE YOUNGER YOU´RE LIKE SPONGES, YOU KNOW?

>> OKAY.

SO WAS IT HARDER FOR YOU TO LEARN AS A 19-YEAR-OLD IN.

>> IT WAS HARDER, BUT I DECIDED, I HAVE SOMETHING TO PROVE.

I HAD TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS.

THEY WERE IN SCIENCE.

WHEN YOU´RE A SCIENCE MAJOR YOU THINK YOU´RE ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL, YOU KNOW?

SO I ASKED THEM TO TEACH ME THIS GAME BECAUSE I SAW THEM IN THE DORM PLAYING.

AND -- AND THEY TOLD ME NO.

I WAS RATHER SHOCKED, TAKEN BACK.

THEY JUST SAID NO.

>> SO YOU TRIED IT YOURSELF?

>> I BOUGHT A BOOK, A BOOK FOR DUMMIES, AND I THOUGHT MYSELF.

>> WOW.

>> AND THEN I HAD LEARNED ABOUT A GENTLEMAN WHO USED TO TRAVEL ABROAD WITH THE OLYMPIC TEAM AND HIS NAME WAS ADOLF POTTER.

AS A MATTER OF FACT I -- YOU KNOW, HE´S MENTIONED IN MY BOOK AS MY MENTOR, AND I WILL GO BY HIM EVERY WEEKEND, EVERY WEEKDAY AND PLAY BY HIM.

HE TAUGHT ME THE ESSENCE, THE BEAUTY OF THE GAME, HOW THE TRAP AND MOVE THE PIECES, ALL THAT.

>> ALL OF WHICH SOUNDS LIKE GREEK TO ME.

I AM NOT A CHESS PLAYER.

BUT FASCINATED BY PEOPLE WHO PLAY THE GAME.

>> IT´S A BEAUTIFUL GAME.

ONE OF THE MY FIRST GOAL WAS TO GET BACK TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO TOLD ME THAT YOU COULDN´T DO IT.

I WASN´T GOING TO TEACH YOU, AND I DID.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND EVER SINCE WHEN I BECAME A TEACHER, THE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE I HAD ABOUT CHESS, I DECIDED, WELL, YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE, YOU DON´T KEEP IT.

YOU PASS IT ON TO YOUNGSTERS.

SO I STARTED CHESS CLUB AT MY SCHOOL, AND WE -- WE LEARNED THE GAME -- THE YOUNGSTERS LEARNED THE GAME.

I WOULD TAKE THEM FROM ONE SCHOOL TO THE NEXT AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS GAME.

AND THEN AS I SAID, WHAT I DO NOW OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, EVERY YEAR I HAVE AT LEAST 100, 110 STUDENTS, AND THEN WHAT I DO, I BRING THE YOUNGSTERS TOGETHER, WE HAVE A LOCAL -- FOUR LOCAL TOURNAMENTS WITH TROPHIES AND AWARDS AND ALL OF THAT.

AND THENALLY SELECT 24 OF THEM AND TAKE THEM TO WHAT IS CALLED NATIONAL ON THE MAINLAND.

WE GOTH NATIONALS AND COME BACK WITH A LOT OF AWARDS, A LOT OF TROPHIES AS WELL.

>> SO, WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP, WHEN YOU WERE A STUDENT IN OUR SCHOOLS, WERE YOU EVER INTRODUCED TO ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE THAT -- WOULD HAVE TRIGGERED YOUR INTEREST IN CHESS?

>> TO BE HONEST, I HAVE A PASSAGE IN MY BOOK THAT TALK ABOUT WHEN I FIRST LEARN ABOUT THIS STRANGE GAME.

I WAS 13 YEARS OLD.

AND WHEN I ASKED FOLKS TO, YOU KNOW -- WHAT THIS GAME IS ALL ABOUT?

THE ATTITUDE WAS THAT THIS GAME IS DESIGNED FOR A SPECIFIC GROUP OF PEOPLE.

>> WOW.

>> PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL POWER.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THIS IS NOT FOR YOU, TYPE OF -- YOU KNOW?

SO I STAYED AWAY BECAUSE I RESPECTED THE VIEWS OF ADULTS, YOU KNOW?

AND I FELT THAT I KNEW WHAT I WANTED AS A YOUNGSTER.

THEN AS I GREW OLDER, I SAID, NO, PEOPLE -- ADULTS WILL ASK ME NOW, AM I TOO OLD TO LEARN TO PLAY THIS GAME?

>> SO, WHAT´S THE AGE OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU´VE TAUGHT?

>> I HAVE A YOUNGSTER NOW WHO´S 5 YEARS OLD.

>> WOW, WHAT´S THE OLDEST?

>> 60.

AND THE QUESTION I WILL ASK THEM, IF YOU CAN COUNT FROM 1 TO 22, YOU CAN PLAY THIS GAME.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

>> THAT´S A GOOD POINT.

I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT.

>> I NEVER -- I NEVER SAY TO ANYONE, YOU CAN´T PLAY THIS GAME.

I NEVER DISCOURAGE ANYONE.

AS LONG AS YOU CAN COUNT FROM 1 TO 22.

AND I KNOW 5-YEAR-OLDS CAN COUNT FROM 1 TO 22, RIGHT?

>> I WOULD HOPE SO.

>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO PLAY THIS GAME BECAUSE OF THE VALUE IT BRINGS TO THEIR LIFE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I´M SAYING?

I HAVE A FEW ADULTS RIGHT NOW.

WE NEAT ON SATURDAYS.

I HAVE A 5-YEAR-OLD.

AS A MATTER OF FACT I HAD A 6-YEAR-OLD YOUNG LADY I TAUGHT THE GAME.

SHE WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO HER FIRST NATIONAL WITH ME.

SHE WAS READY.

>> EXCELLENT.

>> BECAUSE SHE WON HER DIVISION.

I HAVE A DIVISION THAT IS 9 AND UNDER.

I HAVE ANOTHER DIVISION THAT IS 12 AND UNDER.

HAVE ANOTHER DIVISION THAT IS 13 AND ABOVE.

AND THIS YOUNG LADY WON HER DIVISION.

>> SO WAS THAT YOUR GOAL IN WRITING "CHESS, A BEAUTIFUL GAME FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES" TO REALLY TELL PEOPLE ABOUT -- >> MY GOAL -- I LEARNED THIS GAME AND I LEARNED THE VALUE OF WHAT THIS HAS DONE TO INDIVIDUAL.

MY GOAL, I AM HOPING THAT SOMEONE IN EDUCATION CAN SEE WHERE I´M COMING FROM AND OFFER THIS GAME AS A COURSE, AS AN ELECTIVE, YOU UNDERSTAND, AND TEACH THIS GAME IN THE SCHOOLS, ALL OF THE SCHOOLS.

I HAVE TRAVELLED AND HAVE SEEN WHAT CHESS HAS DONE FOR YOUNGSTERS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG LADIES.

>> WHAT DOES IT DO YOUR YOUNG LADIES AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, YOUNG MEN?

>> WELL, IT IS SAID IT IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SPORTS FOR YOUNG LADIES.

>> AND I THINK THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO WITH THE VERY POPULAR TV SHOW THAT´S REALLY CENTERED ON A YOUNG WOMAN.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> A YOUNG WOMAN PLAYING CHESS.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT´S WHAT YOU CALL THE QUEEN´S GAMBIT.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN AWESOME MOVIE.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS AN AWESOME TITLE.

BECAUSE IN DOING RESEARCH, I READ THAT THE QUEEN´S GAMBIT IS ONE OF THE MOVES THAT ELITE PLAYERS HAVE.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> IN THEIR REPERTOIRE.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> BEGINNERS WOULDN´T BE.

>> YOU SACRIFICE SOMETHING TO GET IN THE CENTER, AND THAT´S WHAT THE QUEEN´S GAMBIT IS ABOUT.

WHAT DO YOU SACRIFICE AT THE BEGINNING?

YOU´RE LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE DOWN THE ROAD, AND THAT´S WHY THE QUEEN´S GAMBITS DID.

THE YOUNG LADY IN TERMS OF WHERE SHE CAME FROM, THE CONDITION SHE WAS LIVING IN AND WAY SHE ENTERED THE WORLD STAGE WAS BECAUSE OF CHESS, YOU UNDERSTAND.

>> SO CHESS HAS OPENED DOORS.

>> SURE.

>> SO WHAT DOORS HAS PLAYING CHESS OPENED FOR YOU?

>> WELL, FOR ME I GOT A CHANCE -- THE COUNTRIES I USED TO READ ABOUT IN THE TEXTBOOKS, I GET A CHANCE TO SEE THOSE COUNTRIES I GET A CHANCE TO SEE GENEVA WHERE ALL THE MONEY´S -- WHERE THE BIG SHOTS HAVE THEIR MONEYS, WHERE ALL THE MONEYS ARE HIDDEN.

I GET A CHANCE TO SEE THAT BUILDING.

I GET A CHANCE TO SEE ENGLAND, I GET A CHANCE TO SEE SPAIN.

I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE LOCAL -- >> YOU´RE A WORLD TRAVELER.

>> I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE GREECE.

I´VE TAKEN STUDENTS TO GREECE.

I´VE GOTTEN A CHANCE TO SEE PHILADELPHIA, ATLANTA, FLORIDA MANY TIMES, ITALY, PLACES I -- ONE OF THE TOURNAMENTS I ATTENDED IS THE SAME PLACE THAT THEY HAD AN OLYMPICS TOURNAMENT, THE WINTER OLYMPICS.

WE STAYED IN THE SAME DORMS.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

THAT´S IN ITALY.

SO I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE A LOT AND GOT A CHANCE TO MEET A LOT OF INTERESTING PEOPLE.

>> THAT´S AWESOME SO.

THAT´S WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO WANT TO TELL THE STORY.

>> I WANT TO TELL THE STORY.

>> BECAUSE REALLY YOU´RE TELLING A STORY WITH THIS BOOK.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> AND IT´S A RATHER EXTENSIVE BOOK.

IT GOES INTO A LOT OF DETAIL SO THAT ANYONE PICKING IT UP, HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF THE BOOK, WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CHESS.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK?

>> WELL, AS I SAID, I USED TO HAVE A NUMBER OF CLUBS.

I USED TO MEET WITH A NUMBER OF YOUNGSTERS ON SUNDAYS.

AT THE APPROPRIATE HOUR, PARENTS FROM THE CHURCHES COME IN, BRING THE YOUNGSTERS.

AND STUDENTS WILL ASK ME QUESTIONS -- WHY A PAWN IS MOVING THIS WAY?

>> WHICH ONE IS THE PAWN?

>> THIS IS A PAWN.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THIS IS A PAWN.

WHY DOES IT MOVE THIS WAY?

WHY DOES IT MOVE DIFFERENT FROM THE KNIGHT?

WHY DOES IT MOVE DIFFERENT FROM THE BISHOP?

WHY?

THE HOW COME AND THE WHYS.

AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DIDN´T KNOW MANY OF THE ANSWERS.

SO WHAT I DID, I DID THE RESEARCH AND I NEVER SAID TO STUDENTS, I WOULD NOT GET BACK TO YOU.

IF I DIDN´T KNOW THE ANSWER, I WILL GET BACK WHO YOU.

EVERY TIME THEY WOULD ASK ANY A QUESTION, I WOULD GET BACK TO THEM WITH AN ANSWER.

AND I STARTED TO BUILD UP THIS INFORMATION.

I SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, I COULD PUT THIS IN A BOOKLET FORM, YOU KNOW?

FROM A BOOKLET TO A BOOK.

>> AND IN YOUR BOOK YOU HAVE CHAPTERS HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHECKMATE, HOW TO OPEN, HOW TO PREPARE YOUR DEFENSE.

IT´S A VERY THOROUGH -- I WOULDN´T SAY ANALYSIS.

IT´S ALMOST LIKE A DICTIONARY.

>> YEAH, WHAT I DO ALSO, I GIVE THEM HISTORY OF THE PIECES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS PAWN, THIS IS GROUND SOLDIERS.

YOU HAVE EIGHT OF THESE, EIGHT WHITE PAWNS AND EIGHT BLACK PAWNS, AND THESE ARE THE GROUND MEN.

IN TERMS OF CAPTURE, YOU KNOW, THE GROUND MEN HAVE A SHIELD IN FRONT OF THEM.

WHEN THEY´RE ATTACKED -- >> SO THEY ADVANCE IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> YEAH, YOU CAN´T TAKE YOUR SWORD AND PENETRATE YOUR SHIELD.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE OUT THE PERSON ON THE SIDE.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

SO THE PAWNS MOVE FORWARD AND TAKE OUT THE ENEMY, CAPTURE YOUR ENEMY ON THE SIDE.

DIAGONALLY.

YOU SEE?

>> SO YOUR BOOK EXPLAINS THE ROLE OF EACH OF THESE PIECES.

>> FROM THE KING DOWN TO THE PAWN.

TALKS ABOUT THE KNIGHT.

THE KNIGHT MOVES INTON A "L" SHAPE.

ONE, TWO, AND TURN.

OR ONE, TWO, AND TURN.

THIS GUY IS A VERY UNUSUAL PIECE IN TERMS OF WAR.

THEY´RE COMING FROM THE FLANKS, YOU KNOW?

THIS IS A "L" SHAPE.

I TALK ABOUT WHY THIS MOVE LIKE THIS.

THIS MOVES LIKE A SAILING SHIP.

>> OKAY.

>> YOU SEE HOW A SAILING SHIP MOVES?

>> MM-HMM.

>> VERTICALLY.

I MEAN, DIAGONALLY.

IT SAILS AND CAPTURES DIAGONALLY.

AND THIS GUY HERE, SO, FLAT.

HORIZON TALLY.

>> THIS IS THE BISHOP?

>> THIS IS THE ROOK.

ROOK, HOW IT MOVES, IT MOVES HORIZONTALLY.

>> HOW DID THEY GET THE NAMES THOUGH?

WE HAVE PAWNS, WE HAVE KNIGHTS, WE HAVE -- IS ANY OF -- IS CHESS BASED ON ANY TYPE OF HISTORY?

>> WELL, THE NAMES CHANGE OVER THE YEARS.

THIS WAS CALLED AN ROCA.

THIS HAD A DIFFERENT NAME.

I FORGOT THE NAME.

BUT OVER THE YEARS -- THIS VERSION OF THE GAME STARTED 600 A.D. >> WOW.

>> IT IS ONE OF THE OLDEST GAMES IN THE WORLD.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND IT STARTED IN THE AREA OF INDIA, AFGHANISTAN/INDIA AREA, AND THE TRADE THAT THE ARABS DID BETWEEN EUROPE AND INDIA THOSE DAYS, 600 A.D., THE TRADES THAT THEY DID, EUROPE -- THE ARABS -- AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN THE ARABS VISITED INDIA, THERE WERE TWO -- THERE WERE TWO PERSONS STANDING NEXT TO THE QUEEN TO THE KING.

THERE WERE TWO PERSONS.

AND WHEN IT GOT BACK TO EUROPE, THE GAME CHANGED AND THERE NOW WOULD BE ONLY ONE PERSON, AND THAT´S THE QUEEN.

AND THE QUEEN NOW IS THE MOST VICIOUS PIECE ON THE BOARD.

THE MOST VICIOUS PIECE.

AND BASELY, BECAUSE OF THE ROLE OF THE WOMAN IN THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY, SHE HAD A MORE FORMIDABLE -- FORMIDABLE -- SHE HAD A BETTER ASSIGNMENT.

ASSIGNMENT IN TERMS OF PROTECTING HER KING, HER MAN.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

SO SHE WAS GIVEN A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE BECAUSE OF THE ROLE THAT SHE HAD IN THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY VERSUS THE ROLE THAT SHE HAD IN THE INDIAN SOCIETY.

THEY WERE JUST THERE.

BUT WHEN YOU GOT BACK TO EUROPE, THEY GAVE HER MORE -- >> THEY GAVE HER MORE POWER BECAUSE OF HOW THEIR HIERARCHY IN SOCIETY IS STRUCTURED.

>> THAT´S RIGHT.

SO ALL OF THESE GUYS, THEIR JOB IS TO PROTECT THIS GUY.

PROTECT THIS GUY.

>> PROTECT THE KING, BUT IT´S THE QUEEN THAT HAS THE POWER.

>> THE QUEEN HAS THE POWER.

SHE IS VICIOUS.

>> I´VE NEVER HEARD CHESS QUITE DESCRIBED IN THAT WAY.

>> SHE´S VICIOUS, I´M TELLING YOU.

AND IN LIFE, I WILL TEACH THE YOUNGSTERS, THESE ARE THE SMALL GUYS IN OUR SOCIETY IN LIFE, RIGHT?

BUT THEY WILL ADVANCE.

AS THEY ADVANCE, LISTEN TO INSTRUCTIONS AND POSTURE THE DEFENSE.

THEY CAN PROGRESS SO HIGH THAT THEY CAN BECOME A QUEEN.

>> OKAY.

>> IS A PAWN CAN EVENTUALLY BECOME A QUEEN.

YOU CAN HAVE ANOTHER EIGHT QUEENS ON THE BOARD.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

>> SO THERE´S A LOT OF LIFE LESSONS IN CHESS.

>> LIFE LESSONS IN CHESS.

>> IS THERE A FAVORITE PASSAGE FROM YOUR BOOK THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE?

>> WELL, I CAN DO THAT.

LET´S SEE IF I CAN FIND ONE.

SEE HERE, SEE HERE.

OKAY.

AT THE AGE OF 13, WHEN I FIRST ENCOUNTERED THIS STRANGE GAME CALLED CHESS, I WAS TOLD THEN THAT THIS INDOOR SPORT -- INDOOR SPORT.

I HAD THE ADAPT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW EVENTUALLY I TOLD MYSELF EVENTUALLY WHEN I GOT TO MY AGE MY KNEE´S GOING TO GIVE OUT ON ME SO I HAD TO PICK UP AN INDOOR SPORT.

THIS INDOOR SPORT WAS DESIGNED FOR INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.

AS A YOUNGSTER I NEVER QUESTIONED THEIR ADVICE OR DECISION OF LEARNED ADULTS.

IN MY YOUNG MIND, ADULTS WERE THE BEARERS OF TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE, AND AT THE AGE OF 19, WHILE IN COLLEGE, I FINALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS THIS MYSTERY GAME.

I BEGAN TO LEARN AND PLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IT TOOK ME ALMOST ONE YEAR BEFORE I WON MY FIRST GAME.

SO IT TOOK ME A WHILE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I WON MY FIRST GAME.

ALMOST A YEAR.

>> WOW.

>> BUT I STAYED WITH IT.

>> SO, WE TALK ABOUT CHESS BEING A LIFE LESSON, THAT THE -- YOU BASICALLY SAID THAT THE HARDEST WORKER CAN ACHIEVE.

>> OH, SURE.

>> THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, RISE ABOVE.

>> SURE.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LESSONS, SOME OF THE OTHER LESSONS THAT YOU GAIN?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS YOU GAIN FROM PLAYING CHESS?

>> LET´S LOOK AT THE STUDENTS.

HAVE STUDENTS ARE CONCENTRATION, HAVE STUDENTS WITH DISCIPLINE, HAVE STUDENTS WHO FOCUS, IT HAS STUDENTS WITH CRITICAL THINKING, IT HAVE STUDENTS WITH ANTICIPATION, ANTICIPATING AN ACTION AND PREPARE FOR THAT TO EXECUTE.

>> I READ SOMETHING THAT SAID THAT CHESS HELPS PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND -- CHESS HELPS CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

IT´S YOUR LAWN AND YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS.

THINK ABOUT THIS.

AND LET ME SAY, I JUST READ AN ARTICLE TALKING ABOUT CHESS AND COMES, SLOWS DOWN THE PROGRESSION OF DEMENTIA.

BUT THINK ABOUT IT -- YOU HAVE ONE COMMUNITY FIGHTING AGAINST ANOTHER COMMUNITY.

>> RIGHT.

>> OKAY?

AND THINK ABOUT YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO THE LIFE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO PROTECT THE KING.

>> MM-HMM.

>> YOUR DECISION WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THOSE INDIVIDUALS LIVE OR DIE.

>> WOW.

>> YOU UNDERSTAND?

HE WAS A HUMAN BEING.

YOU AS A LITTLE YOUNG PERSON, TOUGH MAKE THAT DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT ROOK IS THE PERSON PROTECTING THE KING OR THAT QUEEN, THAT POWERFUL QUEEN, LIVE OR DIE.

>> AND THAT´S A POWERFUL THING.

>> YEAH.

I NOTICE ALSO, AND I´VE SEEN IT OVER THE YEARS, THAT YOUNG MEN WHO LEARN THIS GAME STAY WITH US.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT YOUNG MEN SOMEHOW LIKE BATTLES.

>> IS CHESS -- AND I´M SURE YOU EXPLAIN IN YOUR BOOK -- IS IT A GAME OF -- IT´S A BEAUTIFUL GAME FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BUT IS IT A GAME OF LOGIC OR STRATEGY?

>> I THINK IT´S BOTH.

IT´S BOTH LOGIC AND STRATEGY.

BECAUSE LOGIC YOU HAVE TO DO A LOT OF REASONING, YOU HAVE TO DO A LOT OF -- LET ME PUT IT LIKE THIS -- >> YOU HAVE TO THINK YOUR WAY THROUGHURE CHALLENGES.

>> YOU HAVE TO THINK THROUGH.

YOU HAVE TO PLAN.

MANY GAMES I´VE TOLD YOUNGSTERS, THE GAMES ARE WON BEFORE YOU START PLAYING THE GAME ITSELF, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PREPARE MENTALLY HOW YOU´RE GOING TO OPEN, YOUR MIDDLE GAME, AND YOUR END GAME.

SO YOU HAVE TO ANTICIPATE.

>> SO FROM THE START YOU´RE THINKING OF HOW YOU´RE GOING TO GET YOURSELF FROM POINT "A" TO POINT "B."

>> EVEN BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN.

>> SO, WHEN DO YOU KNOW -- IT´S NOT LIKE CHECKERS WHERE YOU´RE -- YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A DEFINED END.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU´RE WORKING TO.

WHEN DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU´RE PLAYING A GAME OF CHESS THAT IT´S OVER?

>> YOUR POINT AT THE BEGINNING IS TO MAKE SMALL MISTAKES.

AND THEN YOU START CAPITALIZING ON THOSE MISTAKES.

AND THOSE SMALL MISTAKES STARTED TO OPEN UP THEN YOU END UP LOSING A PIECE.

AND FROM LOSING A PIECE, YOU MAKE ANOTHER MISTAKE AGAIN AND YOU LOSE ANOTHER PIECE.

AND EVENTUALLY, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE PROTECTING THIS GUY, THIS POWERFUL GUY, THIS GUY WHO HAD SO MUCH POWER, EVENTUALLY HE STANDS ALONE AND START RUNNING ALL OVER THE BOARD.

>> OKAY.

SO THE KING IS THE ONLY PIECE THAT CAN MOVE FREELY ALL OVER THE BOARD?

>> WELL, ALL OF THESE PIECES CAN MOVE AROUND THE BOARD, YOU KNOW?

BUT THE IDEA OF THE END GAME IS TO TRAP THIS GUY SO HE CAN´T MOVE.

WHEN YOU TRAP HIM AND HE CAN´T MOVE -- AND HE CAN BE CHASED BY MY OPPONENT PAWN, THIS LITTLE GUY.

IMAGINE THIS LITTLE GUY RUNNING, THIS BIG GUY, THIS KING, ALL OVER THE BOARD.

WHEN YOU TRAP HIM SO HE CAN´T MOVE, HE TRAPS.

>> AND THAT´S CALLED -- >> CHECKMATE.

>> CHECKMATE.

>> CHECKMATE.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

HE´S TRAPPED TO THE CORNER.

HE´S TRAPPED ON THE SIDE.

HE´S TRAPPED IN THE MIDDLE BOARD.

HE CAN´T MOVE ANY PLACE, AND ALL THESE PIECES, SOME OF THEM STAND ON THE BOARD AND START LAUGHING, YOU KNOW?

>> SO IN WRITING CHESS, YOU HAD A POWERFUL STORY TO TELL, WHICH IS THAT CHESS IS FOR EVERYBODY.

>> CHESS IS FOR EVERYONE.

ACE SAID, I WAS -- I DIDN´T CONSIDER MYSELF AN AUTHOR OR BEAUTIFUL WRITER.

I HAD A STORY TO TELL, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT -- COULD I DO THIS?

SHOULD I?

HOW WOULD THIS BE ACCEPTED?

I´M NOT KNOWN AS AN EXCELLENT WRITER OR WRITER, PERIOD.

BUT EVERY TIME I GO TO THE MOVIE I WOULD WALK WITH A PIECE OF PAINER IN MY POCKET AND COME ONE AN IDEA.

I SAY, LET ME JOT THAT DOWN.

>> MM-HMM.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO YOU WRITE THIS BOOK?

>> FROM WHEN I STARTED TO NOW, IT´S ABOUT FOUR YEARS.

>> OH, WOW.

>> GO AND STOP AND GO AND STOP, ABOUT FOUR YEARS.

I HAD ANOTHER ONE BEFORE THIS, AND THEN I TOOK THAT.

REALIZED THERE WERE SOME ERRORS, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO POLISH IT UP AND GUIDE IT TO THIS POINT, YOU UNDERSTAND?

BUT AS I SAID, AS AN AUTHOR OR AS A WRITER OR SOMEONE WHO HAS A STORY TO TELL, YOU GOT TO TELL YOUR STORY, AND YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES.

DON´T GIVE UP.

THE LESSON I WANT TO TEACH EVERYONE, YOU HAVE AN IDEA THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE, YOU DON´T GIVE UP ON THAT IDEA.

YOU KNOW?

ALONG THE WAYU GOING MAKE MISTAKES, BUT JUST KEEP GOING.

AND POLISH UP AS YOU GO AGAIN.

THAT´S WHAT I DID WITH THIS BOOK.

>> SO, WITH CHESS -- AND YOU SAID YOU WORK WITH STUDENTS ACROSS THE TERRITORY.

WHAT´S NEXT FOR YOU IN TERMS OF GROWING CHESS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AS I INDICATED, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL YOUNGSTERS IN ST. CROIX, ST. THOMAS, ST. JOHN, THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS IF WE HAVE TO, ILL LIKE TO SEE ALL YOUNGSTERS BEFORE THEY GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL LEARN THIS GAME.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

I HAVE SEEN SOME STATES -- I READ SOME YEARS AGO I READ IN VENEZUELA IT WAS A REQUIREMENT FOR YOUNGSTERS TO LEARN CHESS BEFORE THEY GRADUATED.

>> BECAUSE IT PREPARES THEM FOR LIFE.

>> FOR LIFE.

AND I KNOW IN SOME STATES THERE WAS SOME DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK WHERE YOU HAD TO TAKE THIS AS A COURSE BEFORE YOU GRADUATE.

AT LEAST I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS BE IMPLEMENTED AS AN ELECTIVE.

GIVE THE YOUNGSTERS CHOICE AS ELECTIVES.

>> AND UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS, FOR CHILDREN.

>> SURE!

>> IN TERM OF BEING A CONFIDENCE BUILDER, HELPING THEIR PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS.

>> SURE.

I HAD AN EXPERIENCE -- I WAS TEACHING CHESS AS A PRIVATE SCHOOL, AND -- FOR TWO YEARS, AND I SAW A YOUNG MAN, HE CAME INTO MY CHESS CLASS, THIS YOUNG MAN HAD A BRAIN INJURY.

>> AND SO LEARNING CHESS HELPED HIM TO GET OVER IT?

>> DOCTOR ASSIGN HIM TO MY CLASS.

FIRST I SAID, BUT WHY?

AND THEN I REALIZED THAT THE DOCTOR KNEW MORE ABOUT THE REASON WHY HE ASSIGNED HIM THERE THAN ME.

>> THANK YOU, AND IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR LOCAL TALENT, SINCLAIR WILKINSON AND HIS BOOK "CHESS, A BEAUTIFUL GAME FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES".

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS BOOK OR ANY BOOK FEATURED ON OUR PROGRAM VISIT WTJX.ORG.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK FROM THE BOOKCASE.