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It was a battle of brains and technique Saturday at the Weston Library. Nearly 50 children from kindergarten to grade 12 matched wits in an all-day Brain Games Scholastic Chess Tournament hosted by The Friends of the Weston Library and Fairfield County Chess's Daniel Lowinger and Melvin Patrick. Many of the kids have been participating in the regular Chess Mates program run by the Friends throughout the summer.
"I think it's important for the mental gymnastics that are involved and also to expose them to a different experience," said Aymeric Louit, whose four children were waiting for another round to begin after they had finished their own games. His 10-year-old son Sydney started playing in second grade.
"I got into a chess club and had my tournament there, so I've been playing chess ever since," he said, patiently waiting in the library lobby for the last two players to finish. "I like that it's challenging and it teaches you good sportsmanship."
Learning good sportsmanship and life lessons are important parts of the game for Marcy Sansolo, whose son Jack Whitten played in the tournament.
"It's one-on-one so, you either win or lose, and that's what life is all about -- learning how to deal with both aspects," she said.
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