Players and parents congregated in a Zoom room and played games simultaneously on the lichess.org platform guided by Coach Beatriz and chess parent coordinator Gabriel Tsuboyama. In total, 200 games were played in 90 minutes, with the children exhibiting good patience, thoughtfulness, and time management. Stay tuned for more info on our next Virtual Chess Friendly on Friday, May 14. 
 
Following this successful virtual event, Dalton teamed up with Checkmating Dementia to host the second Dalton Chess Fiesta on Sunday, February 21. This friendly online chess tournament featured over 40 Dalton students K-12, parents, community members, and senior citizens coming together to experience the joy of the game. 
 
Checkmating Dementia, a 501 (c)(3) organization that facilitates engagement for senior citizens via chess, writes that "cognitively challenging games...such as chess are an effective means of enhancing brain acuity, developing new pathways in the brain, and hindering the development of Alzheimer's and other cognitive illnesses in the brain."
 
Community Service Coordinator Doug Berns and Chess Director Beatriz Marinello collaborated with Checkmating Dementia Founder/Dalton parent Michael Glassman and chess instructor Dora Martinez to create an online space for Dalton students to interact with seniors and play chess together. Benjamin Nallengara ’24 provided key technical assistance to ensure that seniors and players had the optimal chess experience. The result was an afternoon of engaging games, humorous banter, and intergenerational connection.
 
We are so grateful to our participants and our partner, and we look forward to the next Chess Fiesta!
 
Story submitted by Director of the Chess Program Beatriz Marinello and Community Service Coordinator Doug Berns.