A children’s chess club was treated to a strategy lecture and simultaneous exhibition game with a Norwegian chess grandmaster.
Johan-Sebastian Christiansen met the Youth Chess Club at the Bermuda National Library’s Youth Services Building on Church Street on Saturday.
The grandmaster, who has been on the island since last Wednesday, broke down one of his winning games and analysed the strategies that helped him to win.
He also encouraged the youngsters to suggest their own moves during the analysis.
The day ended with Mr Christiansen playing 20 children and adults at once during an exhibition match — all of which he won.
Sami Lill, of the Bermuda Chess Association, which helped to organise the event, said: “The kids were excited. There were several who took photographs and got autographs with him.
“One of the students, Cole Prior, got the grandmaster to sign a book he won for a tournament last week, so that was nice.”
Mr Lill said that he hoped to inspire and help children develop their own chess skills.
He added: “My hope was that parents and kids get excited about the game, enjoy the game and see the many, many benefits of chess.
“Sometimes it takes a bit of a celebrity to add the ‘je ne sais quoi’ for that.”
Mr Lill said that chess improved a person’s concentration, creativity, patience and social skills.
He said: “Kids who play chess in school do better in life, it’s that simple.”
The Bermuda Chess Association plays at the Bermuda National Library every Wednesday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
The Youth Chess Club plays every Saturday from 3pm to 5pm at the Youth Services Library.