When Stanley Wong’s family moved from Shanghai to Tiburon more than a decade ago, the five year old didn’t speak English. He remembers feeling isolated.
Then he learned the international language of chess.
“I had a very, very hard time learning English, number one, and then making friends,” Wong said. “I struggled because I was a big introvert. Chess was a way for me to interact and engage with other people.”
Wong, now 19, fell in love with the game, crediting it with teaching him important life skills. He learned to play under the tutelage of Lanette and Jeffrey Gordon, a couple who ran an after-school chess program and hosted tournaments for years in Marin.
“One of the first crucial lessons that the Gordons instilled is simply never give up, no matter what position you’re in,” Wong said. “You don’t just resign, right? There are always opportunities to find a way out. That is very true in chess and in my real life.”
For Wong, the game acts as a great equalizer. On the chess board, it doesn’t matter who you are or who you’re not, he said.
When the Gordons stepped back, it left an “educational chess gap” for the county’s youth. In October 2023, Wong partnered with a friend, Henry Lien, to start MarinChess, a year-round program that brings chess to kids in kindergarten through fifth grade.
MarinChess quickly took off, with hundreds of children now participating in the after-school classes and Friday Night Chess Camp. While the program focuses on teaching the game’s fundamentals, the coaches also ensure that beginners and more experienced players learn in a fun, social environment.
The program’s growth has kept Wong busy. In fact, he left college to devote more time to managing MarinChess. Yet he always makes room in his schedule to teach several chess classes each week. He’s passionate about the game’s benefits for young people.
“Chess helps improve critical thinking, strategic planning and problem-solving abilities,” Wong said. “It’s also linked to higher academic performance in math and reading.”
Last week, I attended Wong’s class at Saint Hilary School in Tiburon. Eight kids, ages 7-10, sat with rapt attention as he took them through a game that he had previously played with an international master.
“Why did I do this?” Wong asked his students.
The expressions on their faces revealed some deep thinking—I could see the gears turning. Then the students eagerly raised their hands. If one didn’t get the answer quite right, Wong doled out hints.
Move by move, the classmates figured out their coach’s strategy. The kids with the most experience were able to analyze the game by thinking five moves ahead, and the newest student could visualize two moves. All were impressed that Wong ultimately brought down a chess champion, especially when he had spent the first half behind.
After the lesson, the children played “blitz” chess, with each player allotted five minutes to complete the game. Although the games were friendly, it became apparent that each of them was playing to win. Cries of “oh” filled the room as one player or another captured an opponent’s piece.
Jack Hooker, a first grader, battled his brother James, who is two grades ahead. The boys have different styles. James, 9, chatted. But Jack, 7, is a young man of few words, his favorite being “check,” which he called out as he repeatedly placed his brother’s king under attack. The lead went back and forth, with James finally emerging as the winner.
The class has another pair of brothers, Maddox and Spencer Sullivan, 7 and 10, respectively. Their father taught them chess, and the three of them play every night at home.
“It’s just a fun game,” Maddox said. “I use my brain more when I’m playing chess.”
Spencer agreed, saying he learns a new strategy every game. But the boys have different opinions about the time clock. Maddox said it stresses him out, while his brother prefers playing under some pressure. At home, they don’t use it.
A fourth-grader, AJ Ordona, began playing chess at age five. With six years under his belt, he’s pretty darn good.
“My parents taught me, and then I went to chess camp,” AJ said. “I play with friends because I like strategies.”
Colette Roessler, 9, started playing chess a few months ago, developing an interest after her younger brother took up the game. Despite her recent foray into the world of chess, she has a knack for it. Wong called her a “brilliant” player.
“I got him in checkmate,” she said as I watched her first game of the afternoon. “He can’t move.”
With a mere five seconds left on her clock, Colette pulled out the win in the nick of time. Her opponent still had 40 seconds. Even as she claimed not to be competitive, she triumphantly lifted her arms in the air.
Colette is the lone girl in the class. Some of MarinChess’ classes have only male students. Girls remain underrepresented in chess, stemming from lack of exposure and encouragement, according to Wong.
“Boys are often introduced to chess earlier and pushed to compete, while girls can feel out of place in these male-dominated environments,” Wong said. “Something interesting we’ve found is that when chess is introduced early on, such as in kindergarten or first grade, girls engage just as much, if not more, than boys.”
A winning attitude helps Colette hold her own against her male counterparts. She said that she would like to see more girls take chess classes because it’s enjoyable and helps with thinking skills.
“Being the only girl sometimes can be annoying,” Colette said. “But it’s fun when you beat one of the boys.”
In addition to the gender gap, chess also can be out of reach for kids from low-income families. Wong wants to help change that too.
“Our goal within the next 1-2 years is to turn MarinChess into a foundation so we can expand access to chess even further, especially for students from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds,” Wong said. “We believe every child deserves the chance to benefit from the lifelong skills chess teaches, and we’re working to build a model for accessible, community-rooted chess education right here.”
Friday Night Chess Camp begins on April 11 at Redwood High School in Larkspur. K-5 students at all levels are welcome. Financial aid available. For more information, visit marinchesscamp.com.
