Growing up in the former Yugoslavia, it was pretty much a given that Julian Z. Schuster would learn to play chess at an early age. Most children did. “It was embarrassing if you didn’t,” he says. Now the president of Webster University, Schuster says he still enjoys playing the game he learned more than half a century ago.
In eight out of the last nine years, Webster has finished in first or second place in the national chess championship, the President’s Cup, also known as the Final Four. This year, Webster came in a close second behind Saint Louis University at the Final Four, which was held in early April on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock and also featured the University of Texas at Dallas among the finalists.
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St. Louis has long been known for its chess culture. In 2014, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution naming it the nation’s chess capital. More recently, the U.S. Chess Federation, a nonprofit governing body for chess players and supporters, announced in January that it plans to move its headquarters from Crossville, Tennessee, to St. Louis. Schuster says the growing popularity of chess in the region—and throughout the United States—bodes well for education in general.
How does chess help students in academics?
Research shows that chess is a unique, didactic tool, and that it is not just an aid. It provides opportunities for growth by stimulating one’s mind. When playing chess, you think about what you are doing, think about the consequences, and choose the optimal moves.
It has been proven that when kids learn to play chess, they perform better under pressure and perform better on exams. They learn to not be afraid to make decisions and to take responsibility for those decisions. Chess is an investment in the long run for education. The benefits are similar to compounded interest. It will pay for itself in the long run.
What are examples of how Webster University promotes chess to young people in the St. Louis region?
Members of the Webster chess team have actively gone into area schools, from elementary through high school, to help teach chess. Webster University offers summer chess camps.
I believe our collegians are advancing more and more interest in chess among area schools. As young people play baseball, football, basketball, and softball, there’s no reason why they cannot see chess as a way to prove themselves and compete. For that, we are setting an example. Playing chess doesn’t mean you are weak. It doesn’t mean you are a nerd. The chess team members have been very well-received.
What does chess teach about competition and self-confidence?
Chess is a sport. You are not always going to win. You need to practice and be persistent. When you play, you learn to not be afraid of failure.
Chess is also a great equalizer. It doesn’t ask you where you are from or how much you make. You don’t have to have money. I grew up poor. Chess helps provide an outlook on life, that if things didn’t go as well today as hoped, you can help make tomorrow better.
