Mindsets Conference Explores Growth, Purpose, and the Future of Chess Education

Over 150 educators gather in New York to reimagine how chess develops student thinking and resilience

NEW YORK – The National Scholastic Chess Foundation (NSCF) and Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) presented Mindsets: The New York Chess in Education Conference on December 6 at Quorum in Rockefeller Center, bringing together educators, administrators, and researchers from across the United States and as far away as the UK, Latvia, and Sri Lanka.

The conference centered on a fundamental question: How can chess be used more intentionally in education to help students develop growth mindsets, embrace productive struggle, and cultivate transferable thinking skills?

From Talent to Growth

The weekend's programming challenged traditional notions of chess success focused solely on ratings and trophies. Instead, speakers emphasized chess as a vehicle for developing resilience, strategic thinking, and what keynote speakers GM Peter Wells and Dr. Barry Hymer termed "serious play."

Peter Wells (L) and Barry Hymer during their keynote presentation. (All photos by John Brezina)

Drawing on Carol Dweck's research, Wells and Hymer contrasted fixed mindset beliefs — where talent is seen as innate and success measured by easy wins — with growth mindset approaches that view ability as cultivated through effort, learning, and challenging struggle. They posed critical questions for the modern chess education landscape: Has the growth mindset message survived the recent chess boom era, characterized by entertainment content, tricks and traps, and engine reliance? Can competition align with a growth mindset?

Their answer centered on synthesis rather than false binaries. "Serious play," they argued, recognizes the gifts both learning and performance offer when grounded in intrinsic motivation, challenge, meaningful feedback, productive failure, and metacognition.

A Champion's Perspective

World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov delivered one of the conference's most anticipated addresses, connecting lessons from elite competition to everyday teaching and learning. He reflected on how chess education must evolve as society transitions from an era where knowledge is instantly accessible to an AI-driven world where even thinking can be outsourced.

Kasparov contrasted his own chess development — learning from books and magazines shared among players in his city, studying games of predecessors — with today's environment where players increasingly consult engines rather than trust their own assessment. His message underscored how educators can use chess to help students embrace challenges and develop independent analytical thinking.

The packed crowd during the event.

Research, Practice, and Pathways

Morning sessions featured Dr. Jeff Bulington of the Franklin Chess Center addressing why precious instructional time should be devoted to chess, examining the challenge of cognitive transfer while emphasizing that intentionally taught chess can develop transferable skills in planning, decision-making, and strategic thinking.

Matan Prilleltensky, NSCF Executive Director, presented a mastery-based approach using the Steps Method curriculum, which builds foundational knowledge systematically while keeping students focused on problem-solving rather than memorization.

An exhibition of chess sets with the busy New York street in the background.

Research presentations included findings from Dr. Brian Kisida, Dr. Matthew Pepper, and Dr. Michelle Wickman on gender gaps in competitive chess. Their analysis of over 106,000 young USCF players from 2000-2019 revealed that while females start with lower ratings, they improve at similar rates to males, and the gender gap narrows as female participation increases — especially at higher skill levels.

Afternoon panels explored pathways from high school to collegiate chess, models for offering chess as for-credit academic coursework, and broader definitions of success that include personal growth, character development, and lifelong engagement beyond competitive achievements.

Building Community

Beyond formal programming, three satellite events across the weekend created space for connection and informal exchange. A pre-conference reception at Hunter College Campus Schools showcased a program that has modeled scholastic chess excellence for over 40 years. An evening reception at Chess Place in Spanish Harlem featured live jazz and casual play, underscoring that joy and community are essential components of meaningful learning.

The afterparty at Chess Place in Spanish Harlem.

The weekend concluded with a special presentation and book signing by Wells and Hymer at the historic Marshall Chess Club.

The Mindsets conference was made possible through the generous support of The Saint Louis Chess Club, US Chess, US Chess Trust, ICC: The Internet Chess Club, Mark Wieder, Chess in the Schools, and the New York State Chess Association.

Representatives from the Saint Louis Chess Club announced dates for the 2026 Chess in Education Conference (October 22 through 24) during closing remarks, ensuring the conversation continues.

For a complete report and photo galleries from the weekend, visit: https://nscfchess.org/mindsets-2025/