Gradeschoolers Try to Capture a King

Gradeschoolers from the Ballwin and Ellisville area have been exercising their brains at the Daniel Boone Branch Library for years.

What most don’t know, however, is that part of its allure is a game that may be older than the very language the library supports.

Every other Monday, kids throughout the area get together at the Ballwin branch of the St. Louis County Library in order to play some friendly rounds of chess.

The stakes aren’t high, and neither are the chairs, but that doesn’t detract from the fun had by the 30 or so children that attend the biweekly meetings.

Librarian Latha Sujeeth, who is one of the supervisors for the chess club, said part of her interest in supporting the group was her own experience with the game while growing up in India.

“I played with my grandpa and love it, so I thought kids would be interested.”

Although the library no longer has the funds to compensate local, competitive players who at one time helped instruct, many of the kids’ abilities still continue to sharpen.

“Some of the kids are very good players,” Sujeeth said.

Shirley Zhang, whose son Jonathan, 9, is a student at , said her son has been involved in various activities, but chess seems to cultivate a different sort of skillset.

“He’s a quiet boy, but he’s very thoughtful with each move,” Zhang said. “And he just seems to enjoy it.”

Although chess club is free and open to the public, advance registration is required to accommodate with enough room. Librarian Barb Urban said there may be a waiting list depending on demand, but parents automatically will be notified of openings. Urban also emphasized the club’s recreational nature.

“It’s really just a practice for kids to have a chance to play with other kids.”

Anyone interest in enrolling his or her child in chess club may do so on the Daniel Boone Branch Library website by clicking “Calendar of Events,” then clicking the appropriate date at the top-left corner, then “More Info/Register” above the “Chess Club” link.