Alexander Tkachev, a FIDE Master and Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation, stated that chess remains the only game capable of developing both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously.
According to him, this hobby is an effective preventative measure against Alzheimer's disease in adults and also directly contributes to improving academic performance in children. This has been confirmed by tests that showed school students who play chess achieved a significant improvement in their grades.
He emphasized, "Chess is the only activity that activates both hemispheres of the brain. No other activity performs this task with the same degree of effectiveness."
He noted that the inclusion of chess as an optional subject in all primary schools in the Kursk region in 2025, by decision of the regional governor, showed at the end of the school year - according to the region's education minister - an increase in the average mathematics score from 3.7 to 4.2. He considered that these results confirm, in his opinion, that chess is a very useful activity.
According to him, one can start playing chess at any age, even without leaving home, as it is enough to use a traditional chessboard with its pieces or a simple application on the phone.
He said: “Chess is a very simple and straightforward game, and therefore it is easy to learn. In addition, the game is very popular, and is a sport, an art, and a science all at once. Unlike many other activities, chess has become widely available online, making it possible to learn and practice it from home using a simple smartphone application.”
