Checkmate! Inspiring Young Minds Through Chess at Sedbergh Prep

On Tuesday, I wrapped up my evening by re-watching the final episode of The Queen’s Gambit. I must say, it is compelling viewing for chess aficionados. On the back of this Netflix smash hit, I am told that dusty compendia of games are still being pulled out of attics up and down the country. Thanks to the Beth Harmon character, chess is now deemed ‘cool’ in schools. Of course, it has always been so at Sedbergh Prep—chess lies at the very heart of what we do and is a rich part of our culture.

As in the Netflix series, when we play, the stakes are always high. That said, I often quip that ‘chess was the winner’ at the end of a game—and it always is. I have lost count of how many friendships have been cemented across our chequered boards, how many ‘how was your day?’ conversations have been sparked, and how much mutual respect has been gained between players. I will always love how chess forces us to step back from the detail and consider the bigger picture—so important in life.

‘Every chess master was once a beginner.’ Irving Chernev

‘The only thing chess players have in common is chess.’ Lodewijk Prins

‘When you see a good move, look for an even better one.’ Emmanuel Lasker

‘I have come to the personal conclusion that while all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists.’ Marcel Duchamp

‘The only way to fail for me is just not to try.’ Garry Kasparov