Report on the Chess Western Province Sport and Health Transformation Seminar held at the

University of the Western Cape Auditorium on 28 August 2008.

The Seminar was an African if not a world first. Four speakers addressed the audience on topics relating to sport and health with particular reference to chess. Chess you may ask? Well reader, lets take the journey with me so that I can introduce you to wonderful speakers.

The first speaker was Dr Berte van Wyk. 

His impeccable credentials are as follows:

·            He is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy of Education in the department of Education Policy Studies at Stellenbosch University and holds the following degrees from the University of South Africa (BEd), the University of the Western Cape (BSc, MEd, and a Higher Diploma in Education) and Stellenbosch University (PhD)

·         He is rated as a scientist by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and his current research projects include:

1.      “Institutional culture in higher education” – with Prof Thomas Popkewitz from University of Wisconsin (funded by the NRF for R321 000.00 from 2008-2010) 

2.      “Adorno and Critical Theory: implications for education” – With Prof Heinz Sunker from Wupperthal University

3.   “African philosophy” – with co-worker Prof Philip Higgs from the University of South Africa

·        He has published 12 articles in accredited academic journals, and 5 book chapters of which 2 are international.

·        He was the Faculty Convenor of the 1989/1990 UWC SRC, and the Campus Coordinator at UWC from 1996 till 1999

He became the first President of Chess South Africa in 1992, and then the first President of SASSU Chess in 1994.

Dr Van Wyk introduced his thesis, which he submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of the Western Cape. He explained to the audience that he investigated the memory and recall performance of subjects with different skills levels in the chess domain. The study was classed as a qualitative study, which employed the cognitive approach of investigation.

Three subject groups (experts, novices and non-players) were tested. The first exercise investigated the recall performance at all levels of a chess game, namely the opening, middle game and endgame. The results showed that the experts performed better than novices with the auditory and demonstration tasks in the recall of opening, middlegame and endgame moves. Experts performed better than novices and non-players in the recall of five and ten chess pieces from an endgame position, and their superiority increased with the number of pieces. Experts performed better than novices in the recall of a game and random positions, although they performed poorly with the latter. The thesis was not a replication of the research De Groot (1965) and Chase and Simon (1973). A full extract of his illumination discussion is attached hereto.

The second speaker was Women International Master Denise Frick.

Her tertiary academic career started in 2000 at the University of Pretoria. She graduated with the BPsych degree in 2004. Denise is a qualified counseling psychologist. She completed her Master’s Degree (MA Counseling Psychology with specialization in Sport Psychology) at the University of Pretoria and is now a Cape Town resident.

Denise is an experienced chess player, having represented South Africa in numerous international events. She is a Women International Master and has played on the top board for South Africa at the previous World Chess Olympiad. Her years of active play and experience make her also a popular coach among her students. She is a qualified FIDE Instructor.

She believes that hard work is rewarded with success. Her national, international achievements including winning titles such as that of former SA Women Champion, SA Student Champion carry the weight to her testimony.

The topic of WIM Frick’s presentation was: Chess as a therapeutic medium in a substance abuse rehabilitation centre. The thesis was submitted in fulfillment of a Masters Degree in Psychology at the University of Pretoria in 2006. This research project is a narrative study on the use of chess as a therapeutic medium in a substance abuse rehabilitation centre.  Stabilis Treatment Centre served as the rehabilitation centre where the data was collected and the therapeutic sessions conducted.

In this research report Stabilis Treatment Centre was introduced by exploring and providing an overview of their existing programmers.  A literature review is included where information with regards to drug abuse, exercise psychology and the use of chess in various contexts is provided.  The research methodology was examined and narrative practice is introduced and explored.

The three participants in the research project were introduced and their experiences of playing chess were explored and extended to their experiences of life and relevant situations.  This process was documented in letter format where the researcher wrote letters to each participant reflecting on their experiences of using chess to narrate their personal narratives. The research project concludes where the researcher summarizes the results of this study as well as providing recommendations for future studies. 

The third speaker was Dr Omar Esau.  

His impressive Academic Record include the following:

He completed a Doctoral Degree (PhD.) at UWC in Curriculum Development (Researched HIV/AIDS in Sport & Education) in 2008 as well as a Masters Degree in Education (M.Ed.) in 1994 in Curriculum Development (Thesis – Addressing the “Culture of Silence” in a Primary School), B. Ed. Degree, B.A. Degree in 1990 and Senior Primary Diploma in Education at Hewat Teachers Training College in 1984.

DR Esau has the following Professional Experience:

Deputy-Principal school based WCED since 1997 with over 20 years teaching experience (started teaching in 1985) as well as the Regional SADTU Education Officer (1997 – 1999).

Chairperson or executive member since the late 1990’s of South African Schools Chess, Western Cape Schools Chess, Manyanani Chess Club (Est. 1976), Western Cape School Sport.

Sports Presenter for Radio 786 -won the Western Cape Sports Journalist Award 2000.

Manager for the S.A. U16 Chess Youth Olympic Team to Turkey in August 2003.

CHESSA Executive Member since September 2003 – National Development Officer.

Nominated as a finalist for USSASA Administrator of the Year 2003.

Western Cape Sports Journalist of the Year 2005

Nominated as a finalist for Western Cape Sports Administrator of the Year 2006.

Qualified as a FIDE Arbiter in April 2007.

Awarded International FIDE Arbiter Status in Turkey by FIDE Chess – 2007.

Awarded the Netherlands Fellowship for International Sports Journalism - 2008

The topic of Dr Esau’s investigation set out to break the HIV/ AIDS culture of silence and emphasized the role of the teacher as a researcher and critical change agent in an HIV/AIDS challenged society. Dr Esau demonstrated in his work how teachers could play such a role by encouraging learner’s participation in sport. The code of sport, which he focused on, was chess.

One of the main recommendations is that the role of sport in education be prioritized in the context of HIV/AIDS. The rationale being that sport, recreation and play could contribute greatly to the quality of inter-personal relations and responsible behaviour of children and young people, as well as their personal well being and health.

His study makes an important contribution to the argument that the HIV/AIDS pandemic requires more than medical attention. The study also emphasizes the critical role of teachers in the mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on school children. Dr Esau believes that chess can equip young people with the ability to think ahead and help them make life-changing decisions such as abstaining or having protected sex. This critical way of thinking can prevent the spread of the HIV/AIDS disease.

Dr Esau stated that chess has been called the gymnasium of the mind and has been shown to greatly improve reading, thinking, creativity and analytical skills. The skills learned from chess are not limited to moving plastic or wooden pieces around the board. Former World Champion Bobby Fischer stated that chess is life!  Chess being a mind game encourages deep logical thinking, which lends itself to responsible action. Thus the promotion of the play of chess can be amongst eth creative ways in taking up the HIV/AIDS Challenge.

The forth speaker was Mr. Ray Mandulo from DECAS student who is completing a Masters Thesis also focusing on HIV and Sport.

He emphasized the role of the provincial government and indicated the seriousness with which government is addressing this issue.

The panel listening to questions

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard from Braille Chess with Dr Esau. Clyde is the president of Braille Chess

Deon Foster with Amanda and Paul De Wet

Adv Maxwell Solomon, Dr Van Wyk and Adv Lyndon Bouah

Dr Van Wyk with Mr. Dave Roberts from the WP Sports Council

Mr. Warren Rossiter, Prof Pieter Blignaut from UFS and Mr. Eldo Smart

WIM Denise Frick with Tauriq Jenkins and Abraham De Villiers and a visiting German student

Mr. Cecil Cupido from Boland enjoyed the gathering

I wish to thank Mr. Edwin Wyngaard from the UWC Sports Department for his advice and support and for ensuring the success of the seminar.

I also wish to acknowledge the Western Cape Department of Sport for partnering Chess Western Province in this exciting project.