Over seven iterations, students from Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) four special schools have consistently demonstrated the educational and social benefits of chess.
On May 8, HCDE’s eighth Annual Chess Tournament at Academic and Behavior School (ABS) West displayed these positive outcomes once again. Nearly 30 middle and high school students from ABS East, ABS West, Fortis Academy and Highpoint School competed in the tournament.
Chess has proven to be an activity to build a number of skills, ranging from critical thinking and time management to social engagement with others and attention to detail. HCDE partners with Coach James Hudson and Perfect TeamPlay, Inc., an instructional nonprofit organization that uses chess to motivate students and teach math through the game.
Schools earned points based on each win throughout the tournament, while the three levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced) also finished with top three finishers. Highpoint won the team trophy for 2024-2025, a year after the team finished second.
“I had a bunch of fun. The competitors were tough but I got through it,” said Martin Monge, who taught himself chess during the COVID-19 pandemic and won the tournament’s advanced competition. “Chess makes you think quickly on your feet and that’s why I like it. You have to think moves ahead and the game can quickly turn.”
Many students enter the program with little to no knowledge of the game, but can quickly pick it up through coaching by Hudson and their peers.
“When you look at the critical thinking, the cognitive thinking and other things that chess teaches like time, attention, patience and strategy just name a few, it gets me excited because I know that the program puts the kids on course for success,” Hudson said. “I know that through a personal testimony as well. I practice the principles of chess in my daily life, so it keeps me on course, it keeps me disciplined and it keeps me strong.”
Additionally, students build self-confidence, discipline and the relationship between cause and consequence through chess.
That’s the case for ABS West student Johnny Osorio Jr., who won first place in the intermediate competition. He learned how to play last year and said he enjoys the strategy involved in the game.
“You have to think ahead and think about your moves,” Osorio said. “It makes me happy to win.”
The competition was intense, resulting in joyous cheers for the winning individuals and team. The overall outcome of having students from all four HCDE special schools come together for friendly competition was resounding. It adds a building block to helping students grow.
“I never thought in my younger years that I would be teaching chess,” Hudson said. “Now that I do it, don’t think about Friday. I think about Monday because I know the next day I can get up and do it again. I’m just one of those people in the world that loves what they do. This isn’t a job for me.”