Mindsets: Chess in Education Conference to Take Place in New York City on December 6

The National Scholastic Chess Foundation (NSCF), in partnership with the Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF), is proud to announce Mindsets: The New York Chess in Education Conference, a premier event for educators, school administrators, and chess instructors. This one-day conference, taking place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Quorum in New York City, is designed to empower educators with the tools and knowledge to effectively integrate chess into their curricula and unlock its full potential for student development. Drawing broadly on the concept of mindsets, this conference will explore the role of chess in education–ranging from fundamental concerns about curriculum, educational policy, the positive uses of failure, and the nature of play, to practical questions about classrooms and other sites of learning.

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The conference will feature presentations and panels led by world-renowned experts. Keynote speakers Dr. Barry Hymer and grandmaster Peter Wells share insights from their book Chess Improvement: It's All In The Mindset. Barry and Peter will draw on the research conducted for their book, and on mindset literature, to argue that chess educators should embrace mastery-based virtues like challenge and purposeful play, and not mystery-based virtues like 'natural talent.' Other panelists include leaders from the Purdue University Philosophy Department’s Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence (VRAI) Lab discussing the philosophy of games and learning through play. Leading chess educators will address such topics as justifying the inclusion of chess in school curriculum, innovative strategies for student engagement, and redefining success and personal achievement through chess.

The event will also feature a special address by World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov.

Thanks to event sponsors The Saint Louis Chess Club, US Chess Trust, US Chess, ICC: the Internet Chess Club, Chess in the Schools, and the New York State Chess Association, The Mindsets conference fee is just $75. The fee includes access to all presentations, a continental breakfast, lunch, and a closing reception, offering a perfect environment for networking with peers who are passionate about education and student success.

For full details, visit https://nationalscholasticchessfoundat.regfox.com/new-york-chess- in-education-conference. Educators are encouraged to secure their spot before the November 24 deadline to participate in this transformative event.