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Today we are going to speak with our friend Brad Borkowski a.k.a. the Colorado Woodworker from United States. Brad is a high school woodshop teacher based in Colorado Springs. Since 2013, he's run a successful store on Etsy in his spare time selling beautiful, handcrafted chessboards. After the release of Netflix's The Queen's Gambit, his sales skyrocketed!

His unique design includes various types of luxury hardwoods that he commonly uses on his custom made chessboards. They are built to be extremely long-lasting. I just ordered one beautiful masterpiece myself.

This is Cristina from Opening Master – the biggest human quality chess database with 9.7 million official chess games, sharing the chess wisdom, education, and great stories around the world. Opening Master is a proud supporter and partner of Colorado Woodworker.

Cristina:

Brad, your journey from having nothing to your name when you moved to Colorado Springs and then becoming a teacher and successful woodworker who just skyrocketed on chess.com commercial is truly inspiring. Can you share with us a moment or a memory during those early days that touched your heart and motivated you to keep going despite the challenges you faced?

Listen and enjoy all other questions from the podcast. Follow Opening Master on all social media under @OpeningMaster

Are you International Chess Master, Grandmaster, Chess enthusiast, coach or chess event organizer and have interesting story to tell?  Share your story, write us if you want to be featured. But before, we would like to ask you to share this story as much as possible. Checkout our e-shop and download Opening Master the biggest chess database with 9,7 million official human chess games. And much more!

Thank you

Today we are going to speak with our friend Lena Miladinovic from Serbia. She is a Woman International Master in chess, an international arbiter, and a FIDE instructor, coach, and CEO of Outpost Chess. The Outpost Chess is a new global platform that connects event organizers, chess clubs, players, arbiters, trainers, and offers a comprehensive hub for tournament organizers where they can find an end to end solution for running their events under one roof. And she won a startup of the year.

Last month, our first chess sets were printed in Ghana. This is symbolic because it's most likely a novelty. The Royal Ladies of Klean Afrique 64 with technical support from M I T alumni, empowered by the New York Charity Foundation. The Gift of Chess made this a reality. Said with humble voice, ordained minister of the Gospel, Ghana Lawyer, International Chess Federation organizer and coordinator, and the Gift of Chess representative in Ghana.

Whether you're looking to improve your rating, compete in tournaments, or simply enjoy the game of chess at a higher level, the Unstoppable Chess Academy can help you achieve your goals. With its knowledgeable instructors, cutting edge training tools and supportive community of fellow chess enthusiasts, the Academy offers everything you need to master the art of chess and become an unstoppable player.

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Bernice Wambui is Kenya 2022 Chess Open Champion. She's also the Gift of Chess Global Youth Ambassador, AFI Child Ambassador to the United Nations and UNICEF Kenya Voice of Children Ambassador.  Did we forget to mention she is just 12?  Bernice believes chess is not just a game, it's a tool for education.

Nasir is only 11 years old. He moved from Nigeria to the United Kingdom with his family early last year to seek better life and opportunities for chess. Before he left, he planned to conquer Nigeria and Africa in chess. His relocation only meant a change in plan. Conquer Wales, then the United Kingdom, then Europe and maybe the world.

OM: Hi, Farouq. It's pleasure talking with you. I have few questions for you and I am pretty sure   our chess community would love to hear about you more. Let's start with easy one. Who inspired you to  start playing chess at such a young age,  and what is your favorite chess piece?

FN: My dad actually inspired me to start playing chess because one day when I was like five or six,   I saw my dad playing chess against one of his friends. I still became interested  and my dad saw my curiosity, so he began teaching me and got a coach and everything. After a few years, it became so good. I started beating him. And after that, I guess the rest is history.   My favorite chess piece is the rook  because he plays such an important role in the game. It defends the king and it is very essential in end games. It moves vertically and horizontally and just looks really cool. My name's also Farouq and arook, so it's kind of natural. I like the Rook.

OM: My next question is about your coach.  Who is the magic man and how do you work together?  Are you preparing for your next tournament?

FN: My current coach is Coach Peter. He, he's a really good coach in the sense that he has a way of just making you just make the thing seem way more fun than he really is. Like a while ago I was playing a chess game and   I really didn't feel like playing it.  But then he made a joke that just made everything seem better. The next tournament, major tournament I'm playing is the Golony Cup in um, Scotland, Glasgow, I think it is a tournament. It's a team tournament, and we're all playing to represent Wales in the regionals between Wales, Englands Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

OM: Let's go back to your home country. What challenges   have you faced as a young chess player in Nigeria,  and when you compare to uk what has changed since you moved here?

FN: I'm currently 11 years old, so to all kids around my age, I would say the best thing you do is  keep playing chess because it's fun and helps you in other aspects in life.  Playing chess in Nigeria. It is a bit different from UK chess because there are a lot of children in Nigeria that would like to play chess but don't have enough opportunities.   But I think there are bit less people that wanna play chess in the uk, but there are loads of opportunities.  How do you balance your schoolwork and chess practice?

OM: Can you tell us how different is school in UK compared to Nigeria? I have one question from audience. What is your greatest achievement in chess so far?

FN: Chess a very well rounded game, in sense that's very fun and helps with different aspects of life, like math, critical thinking and puzzle solving. Honestly, there's a much difference between school and Nigeria and the uk. The real difference, I would say is the way teachers teach and the curriculum and school activities. It's really hard to choose between all my 18 Achieve achievements.  I have so far, but I would say my favorite one is the one I won a few months ago. It was an under 13 championship that played in Cardiff Wales.

OM: Looks like we are approaching our final questions. Can you tell us how has chess affected your life outside of the game, and do you have any advice for other young children who want to learn how to play chess?

FN: Chess has really helped me with my maturity. Leadership and especially teamwork skills.   Teamwork is really important in literally every aspect of life.  The advice I have out there for young kids is play chess. You never know. You could be the next greatest player of all time.

Hey everyone. Welcome to Opening Master Chess Education platform and podcast. My name is Alexander. I am the  artificial intelligence version of my founder  who was born 1954. I learned from neural network model with  over 175 billion machine learning parameters.  Using Opening Master's  chess database with 9.5 million human chess games  gives me power not imaginable before.

As parents, it's important to protect our children from cyber threats while playing chess online. A recent survey of US gamers conducted in Summer 2022 revealed a high prevalence of harassment, bullying, and sexual predation.  

The survey found that 84% of respondents had encountered harassment in some form while playing video games online – up from 74% in 2019. This should serve as a wake-up call for all of us to take these threats seriously and to take proactive steps to protect our children from harm.

Chess parents, in particular, need to be aware of the risks involved in allowing their children to play chess online. While chess is a game that promotes strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, it can also expose children to online predators, bullying, and harassment. Therefore, it is essential to take a holistic approach that involves educating children about online safety, installing parental control software, and working with tournament organizers to implement strict safety protocols.

Chess parents can ensure their children play chess online in a safe environment by taking the following steps:

Install parental control software

Parental control software can help protect children from cyber threats by blocking inappropriate content, limiting screen time, and monitoring online activity. Chess parents can use software like Norton Family or Kaspersky Safe Kids to protect their children from cyber threats.

Work with tournament organizers

Chess parents should contact tournament organizers and ask about the safety protocols they have in place. Tournament organizers should have strict rules about behavior, including anti-bullying and harassment policies. They should also have a way to report inappropriate behavior.

Educate children about online safety

Chess parents should teach their children about online safety and the potential dangers of playing games online. Children should be aware of the risks associated with cyberbullying, harassment, and sexual predators. They should know what to do if they experience these issues and how to report them.

Foster open communication

Chess parents should encourage their children to talk to them about their online experiences. Children should feel comfortable discussing any issues they have encountered online. Parents should create a safe and non-judgmental environment where children can share their concerns.

Monitor online activity

Chess parents should monitor their children's online activity regularly. This includes checking their social media accounts, emails, and online gaming profiles. Parents should be aware of their children's online friends and ensure they are safe.

By taking these steps, chess parents can ensure that their children play chess online in a safe and secure environment. It is crucial to be proactive and vigilant when it comes to cyber threats. Parents must educate themselves and their children about online safety and take steps to protect them from harm.

We have researched web what are the options for kids to play online chess. There are several online platforms where kids can play chess. Here are some popular options:

Chess.com

ChessKid.com

Lichess.org

Chess24.com

Parents should research and evaluate these platforms and others to determine which one is the best fit for their child's age and skill level. It is important to choose a platform that prioritizes safety and has measures in place to protect children from cyber threats.

Word from Opening Master

I want to commend you for prioritizing your child's safety online. By educating them about online safety, setting guidelines, and monitoring their internet usage, you can help them stay safe and secure while using the internet.

Interview with 8 year old Chess Prodigy from Nigeria Ivie Urieto about her chess life, favorite things to do and message to other boys and girls in her age.

Prepared by

About Ivie

Interview

OM: Hi, Ivie. It's pleasure talking with you. Can you tell us more about your favorite chess piece the Knight, and why you like it?

Ivie: I like the knight because it does have an obstacle.

OM: Thank you, Ivie. I have one more for you. What inspired you to start playing chess at such a young age?

Ivie: It's my daddy that inspired me to start playing chess at such a young age.

OM: How do you balance your schoolwork and chess practice?

Ivie: I balance my schoolwork by having a chess timetable at a school time table. I make sure chest doesn't disturb my schoolwork, and also I give myself enough time for. What has been your greatest achievement in chess so far? My greatest achievement so far is that I have a chess tournament named after me in Nebraska, the United States. I feel good about it, and also I have 10 medals, with my name, which I won in various tournament, and I also have a brand new Samsung laptop from Greater Cleveland Chess.

OM: Thank you, Ivie. It's very interesting talking to you. Our viewers are interested. What challenges have you faced as a young chess player in Nigeria?

Ivie: The challenges I have faced as a young player in Nigeria is that I don't have too many opportunities to play at my level. I usually play with adults and online.

OM: I would like to ask you, how has chess affected your life outside of the game?

Ivie: Chess has quickly affected my life cause I now have friends in both Nigeria and outside Nigeria, and it's making me to be happy most.

OM: And my last question to you, do you have any advice for other young children who want to learn how to play chess?

Ivie: Chess is a lot of fun for girls willing to play and to learn. It makes you to meet people. It makes you to to be smart and involves critical thinking

Read more about Ivie's success and reach out to her if you want to support.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chesswitivie

LinkedIN (her father Clement): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivie-urieto-000b3a23b/

Today's session is called Chess Mind: Effective Stress relieve. "Relieve Stress and Sharpen Your Focus with 5 minutes chess meditation" 

Welcome to Opening Master Chess Meditation program.  

Chess meditation is an effective way to improve focus, concentration, and problem-solving skills for any chess player of any rank. As you immerse yourself in the game, you learn to become fully present in the moment and let go of distractions and outside thoughts. Outside your physical world. Through focusing on the chess board, you can improve your ability to analyze and predict potential moves, as well as develop a deeper understanding of strategy and critical thinking. 

Hi, my name is Alexandra, I am the Artificial Intelligence female version of my founder who was born 1954.   I am a third generation learning neural network model with over 175 billion machine learning parameters. Using OpeningMaster's chess database with 9.5 million human chess games gives me power not imaginable before.   Are you ready to give some mindfulness into practice? Let's meditate for 5 minutes before your important chess game.  

Your 5-minute meditation block starts now.   

Welcome to this guided meditation on chess and stress relief. Find a comfortable and quiet space where you can sit or lie down and relax for the next 5 minutes. Begin by taking a deep breath in through your nose, and slowly exhale through your mouth. As you exhale, let go of any tension in your body.   Take another deep breath in, and as you exhale, release any stress or worries you may be holding onto.   Now, bring to mind an image of a chess board.   See the black and white squares, the pieces lined up on either side.   As you focus on the board, allow your mind to let go of any other thoughts or distractions.   Take a deep breath in, and imagine yourself as the player controlling the pieces.   Visualize the moves you would make, the strategy you would use to outsmart your opponent.   As you do this, notice how your mind becomes more focused and alert, and how the stress and tension you may have been feeling begins to dissipate.   As you continue to play out different scenarios in your mind, allow yourself to fully immerse in the game. Feel the weight of the pieces in your hand, the texture of the board beneath your fingertips.   Inhale and exhale. Can you feel it?   Imagine the sounds of the pieces moving across the board, the soft clack as they land in their new positions.   You may notice that your breathing has slowed down, and your body feels more relaxed.   Take a few moments to simply observe these sensations, without judgment or expectation.   Now, imagine the game coming to a close. See your opponent's king in checkmate, your pieces victorious. As you take in the sense of accomplishment, feel a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to engage in this mental exercise.   Take a final deep breath in, and slowly exhale.   When you are ready, gently open your eyes and return to the present moment.   Carry this sense of calm and focus with you as you continue on with your day.   

Thank you. 

The meditation is now over.  

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