Tiburon teen turns childhood passion into youth chess network

MarinChess Executive Director Stanley Wong (left) and instructor Leo Maso observe as third graders Anthony Lopez (left, seated) and Mark Abraham are in deep thought over their next moves during the program's after-school class March 28 at Vallecito Elementary School in San Rafael. (Francisco Martinez / The Ark)

Tiburon resident Stanley Wong observes the eight kids gathered in a classroom at Valle­cito Elementary School in San Rafael on a recent Friday afternoon. The kids are there for an after-school chess class, and they’re learning about castling, the special move where the king and rook simultaneously move along the same rank to bring the rook into action while protecting the king.

The students raise their hands eagerly when they have questions and ideas, with some running up to the board to tell their instructor, Terra Linda resident Leo Maso, what they would do in each scenario.

Wong, the 19-year-old executive director of MarinChess, says he enjoys seeing the students’ enthusiasm to learn the game, which he says teaches kids larger problem-solving skills, as well.

“You’re in a position right now, and you have to find your way to maneuver out of it, how to find yourself in the best position possible,” Wong says. “I think chess is a really great analogy for … all of that.”

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