Girls chess starts school tour

These chess players break for snacks during Girls Chess Night, which is starting a tour of Madison schools. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – With a successful premiere summer behind them, players in Girls Chess Night are launching their Tour of Schools.

During remaining weeks in September, Columbia Elementary School will host Girls Chess Night. “Each month a different school will host,” Ranae Bartlett said. Bartlett serves as executive director of Madison City Chess League.

“We are hoping that girls from each host school may want to try out Girls Chess Night and then keep coming each month as it moves to a new location,” Bartlett said.

The chess players will tour on Tuesday evenings, starting at Columbia on Sept. 22 from 6 to 7 p.m. Columbia’s address is 667 Balch Road. “Girls only. Sorry, boys,” Bartlett said.

The tour is targeted for girls who know how to play chess and want to gather to play the game with other girls. Guest instructors will offer “occasional mini-lessons,” Bartlett said. “Bring your own board.”

On the first Tuesday of each month, the girls will have ChessKid Nights. Participants should bring their iPads or tablets to play chess online.

The Tour of Schools “will also be a great benefit to girls at each school who want to try and play chess with girls from across Madison. Chess sets will be provided by the host school. We hope to see you at Columbia elementary in September,” Bartlett said.

On the tour schedule are Madison Elementary School in October and Rainbow Elementary School in November. The tour will take off in December for the holidays.

“Join us for Madison City Chess League Spirit Night at Taziki’s on Dec. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m.,” Bartlett said. “The kids should bring iPads to play Fast Chess online.”

For a monthly schedule and host schools, visit the league’s website at madisonchess.com/girls-chess-night.