“Chess is the almost perfect combination of art, investigative science, knowledge and inspiration.”
Raymond Keen
The list of people who have been passionate advocates of the game of chess include almost every famous and sometimes infamous historical figures including Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Richard Strauss, Voltaire, Rousseau, Shakespeare, Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, Napoleon, Fredrick the Great, Winston Churchill, Catherine the Great, King Montezuma, Queen Victoria, Robespierre and Ivan the Terrible. Throughout its 2000 year history the passion to master this fiercely competitive game has not lessened. Chess continues to fascinate millions of people world-wide; evident by the fact that there are more books written about chess than any other sport.
At Stretton State College, the culture of chess is a well-established element of co-curricular school life. Students from Prep to Year 10 currently engage in chess lessons on a Thursday afternoon from 3.00pm-4.00pm in the Gowan Campus Library. All levels of play are catered for. The number of students determines the number of coaches. The fee is $9.00 per lesson and lessons are held in blocks of 7-9 weeks depending on the number of weeks in the Term.
Students have the opportunity to put in practice the skills they acquire in class by attending the Interschool Chess Teams Tournament held at the school once a term. Additionally, they are able to participate in the Somerville House Invitational held each term and the Nudgee Junior Chess Competitions and workshops held during the holidays.