Master class!

PRIZE-WINNING seven-year-old schoolboy Jihyeok Yang is making the right moves to fulfil his dream of becoming a chess champion.

He has already taken first place in an under-eight category of a recent tournament attracting players of all nationalities.

And to prove that skillful tactics run in the family, the British School of Bahrain pupil’s younger brother, five-year-old Jibeen, also took part in the contest winning an award for being the youngest competitor at the first Seef Mall Amateur Chess Championship.

Seef Mall, together with the Bahrain Chess Academy, has been hosting monthly chess tournaments. A recent competition attracted more than 70 players, ranging from eight to 16.

Jihyoek started playing chess last summer encouraged by his mother Jinny and banker dad Jaeho, who works for Korean Exchange Bank. They thought the sport would enhance his concentration capabilities and provide him with resourceful qualities in his future education.

Korean-born Jihyoek, who lives with his family in Saar, said: “It was only my second tournament and it was so much fun to win.

“I love chess. In the beginning I didn’t realise it would be this much fun. It makes me happy.

“I taught my mum and dad how to play chess and even when I play against them I win. My mum is better than my dad at playing but I’m still the best.”

Three months after Jihyoek started taking chess classes at the BSB Academy, brother Jibeen decided he wanted to pick up the skills too.

He said: “My brother thinks he’s the best but I can beat him sometimes!”

Mrs Yang believes that playing the game has had a positive impact on both her children, boosting their brainpower.

Studies show that the relationship between chess and acquiring maths, reading and critical thinking skills is fairly strong.

One study suggested critical thinking skills improved by 17 per cent in students in chess classes compared to five per cent in other classes. Researchers found that chess also teaches patience and courtesy because the sport involves waiting for an opponent to make a move, as well as sportsmanship.

The findings also proved that children want to translate the skills and planning involved in playing to other areas like schoolwork.

Mrs Yang said: “Both my children seemed to suffer from a lack of focus before they took up chess. Chess has helped them in so many ways; even their memory has improved since they started playing.

“Jihyeok moved to the BSB from the British Preparatory School in September and it was a completely new environment. I wanted him to get involved in the programmes, make friends, while at the same time do something that could benefit him … chess was the perfect choice. Not long after, his brother wanted to join and they both love it now.”

The siblings are part of the BSB Chess Academy attending weekly sessions, but that doesn’t stop them from playing the game at home at least five-times-a-week. Mum explained how they would play every day if they weren’t so busy taking part in the Tennis Academy and Football Academy while they have also set their minds on joining the Swimming Academy in the near future.

International Master Mohamed Tissir, 35, director of the BSB Chess Academy, said: “Both of these boys have improved so much since they first started playing. I am extremely proud of them and I’m gearing them up to take part in more competitions.

“Chess is a fun game and is a hobby for a lifetime. When they get to the age of 80 they can still play and enjoy it, which is not like any other sport.

“I believe it  helps children academically as well as build up good attributes in their personalities. It makes them to concentrate more. These two boys still need to work on their focus but the game has helped ... trust me!

“Learning the game is the easy part, it’s the improvement which is hard and these boys are on their way there.”

Jihyeok’s win has encouraged him to dream of playing the game at a professional level when he is older … but if that fails perhaps a career in tennis would suffice!

Jibeen wants to catch all the bad guys and become a police officer by day and a superhero by night, following in the footsteps of his idol, Batman.

Mum has different plans for the both of them explaining how she believes they will grow up to be mechanical engineers as their love for cars and Formula 1 is the only thing that can distract them from a game of chess.