EP 264- Elizabeth Shaughnessy (founder of the Berkeley Chess School)

Perpetual Chess Podcast

Perpetual Chess LLC

Leisure, Hobbies, Sports

4.8 • 706 Ratings

🗓️ 1 February 2022

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week I am joined by the founder of the Berkeley Chess School (BCS), Elizabeth Shaughnessy. The Berkeley Chess School is a California based non-profit that has taught chess to approximately 250,000 kids over the decades and has taught future grandmasters like Sam Shankland, and Hans Niemann. At 84 years of age, Elizabeth is still razor sharp and competing regularly in tournament chess! We talked about how chess and life have evolved since she founded BCS in 1981, with a particular emphasis on the Queen’s Gambit and whether she thinks the show can help grow interest in chess among women. Elizabeth has so much wisdom to share from a lifetime as a chess competitor, teacher, organizer and mom, it was great to get to chat with her. Please read on for more details and timestamps. 0:00- How does chess help kids? Mentioned: Growth from Failure Interview with Elizabeth Shaughnessy, Cyrus/Asbergers 5:30- How did the Berkeley Chess School begin back in 1981? How has it grown over the years? 12:30- BCS has taught future GMs Sam Shankland, Hans Niemann and Christopher Yoo among other future chess stars. Did they intentionally try to cultivate champion players? 19:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest offerings here: New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels- Chessable.com 20:00- What is Elizabeth’s impression of The Queen’s Gambit? Has Elizabeth subsequently seen an increased interest in chess from women? Mentioned: Queen of Katwe, The Polgar Sisters, Jen Shahade’s FAQ page 45:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com! If you subscribe, be sure to use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. Check out their yearly recap here: https://www.aimchess.com/recap 46:30- Patreon Mailbag Question: “What is Elizabeth’s favorite opening to teach to kids? 50:00- Patreon Mailbag Question: “What experience has Elizabeth had with using chess as a tool to stave off dementia?” Mentioned: Episode 145 with WIM Beatriz Marinello 52:30- Patreon Mailbag Question: “What is the state of the BCS building renovation? How does the club foster a welcoming environment?” 1:01:00- What advice would Elizabeth give to anyone thinking of starting a chess club or academy? Mentioned: Episode 201 with FM Peter Giannatos 1:07:00- What role did legendary IM George Koltanowski play in founding the BCS? 1:13:00- Thanks so much to Elizabeth for joining the podcast. You can support the Berkeley Chess School here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The Autopilot Order.
0:01.6	Noun, informal.
0:02.9	The strong urge felt at the ordering kiosk or drive-through
0:05.6	that takes over the entire body and mind
0:07.7	and results in a person ordering a Big Mac without even having to think.
0:11.4	Related phrases.
0:12.5	Looks like I've ordered a Big Mac again.
0:14.6	The Autopilot Order at McDonald's.
0:18.0	Serves from 11am subject to availability.
0:24.6	Hi. served from 11 a.m., subject to availability. Hello, everyone. I am Ben Johnson, and this is the Perpetual Chess podcast. Perpetual Chess is a weekly chess interview show with accomplished chess players, authors, personalities, and adult improvers where they discuss their lives, their careers, and share
0:37.8	tips about how to improve at chess. For more information, go to perpetual chesspod.com. So without
0:44.3	further ado, let's get to them. Hello, everyone, and welcome back to perpetual chess. We are
0:52.2	joined this week by a distinguished guest. She has 84 years of age,
0:55.8	joining us from her home in California. She grew up in Dublin. Originally was an architect by trade,
1:01.4	also a chess player. In fact, in 1970, she was the Irish women's chess champion. She's represented
1:08.0	Ireland on the women's Olympiad team seven different times.
1:11.2	But as I said, based in California, where she's best known these days for having founded the Berkeley Chess School in 1981.
1:18.6	They these days teach about 7,000 kids per year.
1:21.6	They have taught future grandmasters such as Sam Shanklin, Hans Neiman, most recently Christopher Yu. Of course, that's not their
1:29.5	main emphasis. They are a nonprofit devoted to teaching lots of kids chess. It's estimated they've
1:34.8	taught somewhere in the neighborhood of 250,000 kids over these years. Our guest is also a US,
1:40.2	or has been a U.S. chess board member, and most importantly, she is a mom. And without further ado,
	...

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