A Sport?

I read this from an article on the U.K.'s National Chess Week:

"After football, chess is the most popular sport in the world, bringing people of different ages, abilities and backgrounds together. The game is currently enjoying a revival with celebrity fans including Madonna, Jude Law, Sting and Lennox Lewis."

But is it really a sport?

Unruly Behavior

A chess development programme, first launched in seven primary schools in Aberdeen’s Northfield housing scheme in 2001, has led to improved attendance at school, enhanced numeracy and literacy skills and better behaviour in the classroom, according to a report to go before members of the city council’s education and leisure committee.

Read the full article.

What the Master Learned

"If you develop the ability to enjoy what you are doing, even work would be a pleasure. Chess has helped me grow as a person. It has taught me self- control. It has taught me not to get emotional as the opponent would be able to sense it. You develop the courage to take risks in life." --VISHWANATHAN ANAND

One of the world's top-10 players gives his perspective on chess and the new year in this article.

Back in the Game

Congratulations! We're back in the top-100 active teams at GameKnot.com today, appearing at 50th place with a team rating of 1305.

Year-End 2004

We ended the year with a team rating of 1243, 43 points higher than when we started with our first team win back on August 5, 2004. Super Friends entered 2005, ranked 135th out of the active teams on GameKnot.com, a respectable finish to a holiday season fraught with timeout losses.

Among my New Year's resolutions: 1) Captain our team back into the top-100 (where we belong), 2) Improve my own game (and rating).

Take a moment to click on "Comments" below and add a sampling of your own goals for the new year.