The field-level concourse at Busch Stadium usually echoes with the crack of a bat. Last Thursday, it was filled instead with the rhythmic clicking of chess pieces.
The First Responders Chess Helping Enhance Student Skills (CHESS) program brought local students, police officers and firefighters together in the Cardinals’ dugout, using competition to build connections.
“It’s a unique experience for the kids,” said Rex Sinquefield, president of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “They get to roam the ballpark, but they also love meeting the first responders. They’re in the news so much; it’s nice to interact in such a positive, friendly way.”
Founded in 2017 by the Saint Louis Chess Club, the program is part of a broader effort to bring chess into schools through structured partnerships and classroom-based instruction. The club has worked with educators and researchers to study how chess can support student development, including academic and behavioral outcomes.
Sinquefield said the initiative also encourages school engagement, citing surveys conducted by the club that show increased attendance on days when chess is offered.
The program’s growth reflects a broader trend: chess is having a moment among young people. Once seen as niche, the game is gaining traction in classrooms and after-school programs, where its mix of strategy and competition is drawing in a new generation of players.
Research has suggested academic and cognitive benefits tied to chess instruction. A study by educational psychologist Dr. Stuart Margulies found that students in a New York City chess program improved reading scores more than a control group, with gains that were statistically significant.
More broadly, educators say chess can help students develop critical thinking, decisionmaking and problem-solving skills, while some studies have linked participation to gains in academic performance and confidence, though results can vary depending on how programs are structured and how often students play.
For students, however, the impact is immediate.
“You get to pause and take control over your words and your body,” said Amiyah Miller, a student at Lift for Life Academy. “It’s like, should I say this before they say something? Is this a good thing to say?”
As chess programs expand in schools, first responders say they are embracing opportunities to connect with students outside emergency situations.
“I believe this is important because there is a gap between the kids and adults,” said Brian Jackson, a captain with the St. Louis Fire Department. “They say it takes a village to raise them; I just want to be a part of that village. Life is a game of chess — it’s all about decisions.”
Programs like the one at Busch Stadium also reflect a broader shift toward using chess as a tool for engagement, rather than just competition. Research tied to the club’s Chess in Education initiative has found that more intensive, classroom-based chess instruction can be linked to gains in math performance and improvements in student behavior, particularly when lessons are integrated into the school day.
To date, the Saint Louis Chess Club says it has taught tens of thousands of students through its scholastic programs.
The event at Busch Stadium offered a different kind of playing field — one where strategy replaced speed and conversation replaced confrontation.