A growing number of children in Hoboken are putting down their Playstation controllers and picking up queens and kings in an effort to learn the “world’s oldest game.”
Chess is losing its highbrow image as more and more kids are taking the game up as a competitive sport. According to a recent Wall Street Journal study, children under 20 now make up the largest portion of the membership of the U.S. Chess Federation, the nation’s most visible chess organization.
“Chess teaches children so many lessons,” said the Hoboken Chess Club founder Peter Croce, 44, Tuesday. A coach and teaching guru, Croce is spearheading the charge of youth chess in the mile-square city and has taking up teaching chess as his full time profession, leaving a lucrative cleaning business that he owned. “Chess improves critical thinking skills and concentration,” he added. “It gives kids a focus which will help hyper kids calm down and helps shy kids come out of their shell.”
In the two years since starting the club, Croce has taught more than 300 youths the game and currently has a core of about 20 players who are intensely competitive on the state level.
At the recent New Jersey State Scholastic Chess Championships, the Hoboken Chess Club produced a state champion and a handful of medallists. The event, which was sponsored by the New Jersey State Scholastic Chess Association and sanctioned by the United States Chess Federation, brought together over 400 of the best youth chess players in the state.
“I really wanted to win,” said 9-year old state champ Curt Beck, who also enjoys competing in baseball, soccer and basketball. “I was very proud. Chess has taught me so many things. It has made me smarter and I am doing better in school now. Everything I do now, I do with a little more confidence. Eventually I would like to be a grand master but I realize that is going to take a lot of work that is going to last well into the future.”
They need space
While the club is running up a tally of impressive victories, there is a gray cloud that is hovering over youth chess in Hoboken.
They don’t have a home to call their own.
In the past, they have taken advantage of the generosity of several civic organizations and apparently chess is a non-partisan issue, as the club has held its activities in both the Russo Civic Association facility as well as at a space donated by Mayor-elect David Roberts’ Hoboken United. But due to renovations and scheduling conflicts neither of those spaces is still available.
During the summer Croce is running a chess camp, but because of the lack of a permanent home the going has been arduous.
“It’s a labor of love but it has been difficult,” said Croce, who runs the camp for approximately 10 children a week. “It would mean everything to us to have a room that we could call our own. It would make all the difference, but financially if difficult to do with out any type of sponsorships.”
The camp moves around from city park to city park to teach the basics of the game. Also, the camp goes on field trips to places like the famed Washington Square Park in Manhattan – a place known for its weathered, streetwise champions. Not surprisingly, Croce’s army of aficionados held their own against some of the best players playing on some of the toughest tables in the world, and Croce has the picture to prove it.
But the financial reality is starting to come down on the chess coach.
While he does charge for his lessons and he does charge $125 per student at his camp, the money to establish a permanent chess club is still not there, he said. Croce has been negotiating to open a Washington Street space but according to Croce the cost of that even at a discounted rate could run him upwards of $1,500 a month.
“We are a lot like gypsies now,” said 9-year old James Arsenault from the chess camp Tuesday. On that day, the kids were relegated to Columbus Park, and because there are no any tables, they were forced to set up shop on the concrete floor under a covered gazebo. “It would be easier on everyone, I wouldn’t have to call my parents every day to tell them where they should pick me up,” he said. “It would be a lot less stressing.”
Nevertheless, Croce is confident that everything is going to work out in the end.
“I really do think chess could be huge in Hoboken,” said Croce. “Not only for children but for everyone. It would be my dream to set up a chess shop here were anyone can come in and play chess while we run the club out of the same space. If we can just get the community support I am confident it could be huge.”
In addition to the camp, the club offers private lessons. And on July 14, the chess club will be sponsoring the Hoboken Chess Festival at Sinatra Park.
For more information about the Hoboken Chess Club, its camp or the festival, contact Peter Croce via e-mail at Hobokenchess@yahoo.com.