Peel - Over one thousand students from 80 schools across the Peel District School Board will gather at the HJA Brown Education Centre for the 6th Annual Peel Chess Tournament from April 29 to May 1. With 50 more schools and 500 more students participating compared to last year, the board has expanded the tournament to three days.

"We are very excited to bring such a large number of enthusiastic students from a wide range of grade levels together to enjoy three fun-filled and challenging days of chess," says John Burgess, tournament founder and teacher at Queenston Drive Public School. "This tournament fosters a sense of community by bringing together students, parent volunteers, teachers and staff from across Peel."

The tournament schedule is as follows:

Grades 2-5   -      April 29, 2008      -      9:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Grades 6-8   -      April 30, 2008      -      9:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Grades 9-12  -     May 1, 2008         -     9:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

While each day is dedicated to specific grade levels, they will all follow the same playing format. After preliminary qualifying rounds, 16 division winners will compete in a series of elimination rounds to determine a winner. All other participants will continue to play throughout the afternoon to earn points that will count towards their school's standing. Each day will end with an awards ceremony that will recognize all participants, including the top players and schools. 

"Chess is a game that develops critical thinking, spatial awareness, logic, reasoning and problem solving skills," says Said Elfarnawany, tournament founder and teacher at Queenston Drive Public School. "As students practice and play more and more, their self-confidence grows because they rely on their own creativity to solve the challenges and problems that arise in every chess game."

HJA Brown Education Centre is located at 5650 Hurontario Street in Mississauga.