The Greene School Chess Program has achieved a major victory that extends far beyond the chessboard: we've been awarded a prestigious United States of America Chess Federation (USCF) Women’s Regional Grant Funding for the 2025-2026 academic year!

This significant funding is launching our new pilot program, C.H.E.S.S. (Challenging a Higher Education for Students), which aims to tackle a major challenge in the chess world—the gender gap. Currently, fewer than 8% of scholastic chess competitors nationally are girls. We are working to change that, starting right here in West Palm Beach.

Why Chess for Girls, and Why Now?

The C.H.E.S.S. program, championed by National Coach and program founder Antonios Loudaros, is designed specifically for girls ages 5-11 in grades K-6. This initiative is about more than just moving pieces; it's about building foundational skills for lifelong success.

The Benefits are Academic and Personal:

• Cognitive Mastery: Chess is a unique tool that trains higher-order thinking skills like strategic planning, spatial reasoning, and impulse control. We expect participants to see immediate academic improvements, especially in math, science, and reading.
• Confidence Building: The program provides free sessions, tournament scholarships, and awards to remove barriers to entry. By providing a supportive environment, we aim to increase the confidence of our girls to compete at the Florida State and National Girls Chess Championships in 2026.
• A National Mission: This grant supports the USCF’s critical mission to educate, retain, and promote women and girls in the game, making our program part of a vital national movement.

Coach Loudaros emphasizes the lasting impact: “The benefits of a solid chess program are life-learned skills! Our goal is simple: WIN - DRAW - LEARN.” We anticipate the number of girls achieving top awards in local tournaments will increase by at least 50 percent!

A History of Local Excellence

The Greene School is already a powerhouse in the chess community. We are the six-time Palm Beach County chess champion, have won a State Championship, and have placed in the top three at National Chess Championships. The growth has been phenomenal—with the help of Coach Matt Kolcz, our program now includes 76 players, with 37 girls from K-7.

This grant is the next step in solidifying our program as a model for excellence and equity.

What’s Next for The Greene School Chess Program?

The C.H.E.S.S. program will run from October 2025 to June 2026, but the excitement is just beginning! We are proud to announce that we will be hosting several major events for the local and regional chess community:

• The District and South Florida Regional chess tournaments.
• Five local tournaments at 88 Palms Hotel and Tideline Resort.

We invite the entire Greene School community to follow the success of our Chess players as they embark on this exciting new chapter!

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