Saint Louis Chess Club
Basis has partnered with the Saint Louis Chess Club – considered by many to be the best chess club in the world – to conduct cutting edge chess research.
Why Chess Research Matters
Whether it’s studying the ability of chess instruction to raise related academic and non-academic skills or big data projects that explore the patterns of hundreds of thousands of chess players over a twenty-year period, Basis’ partnership with the Saint Louis Chess Club has been pushing the limits of chess for nearly a decade.
At first glance, chess may seem like a niche, isolated skillset, but the ancient game has wide-ranging implications across multiple disciplines. Chess requires problem solving and critical thinking skills, characteristics highly valued by today’s employers. Research also explores whether chess improves essential skills such as math, concentration, or self-efficacy. Finally, understanding the male-female ratings gap provides valuable insight into the national male-female gap within STEM fields.
Statistics
Impact in Action
Far-Reaching Impact:
The Club’s scholastic programs reach over 100 schools annually, impacting more than 100,000 students through in-school and after-school programs. Basis led the development, refinement, and implementation of the Club’s scholastic chess curriculum at the foundation of these programs.
Understanding Existing Research:
Basis conducted a comprehensive literature review of after-school programs that compiled and analyzed data across 24 different studies.
Shaping Communities
The 2024 Saint Louis Chess Conference, led by Basis, brought together over 250 educators, researchers, and enthusiasts.
Community Leaders who Create Opportunity:
The Saint Louis Chess Club’s prestige demonstrates a vested interest in growing broader chess knowledge. Basis has been instrumental in designing a research agenda focusing on scholastic chess, the male-female ratings gap, and the transformative potential of chess in broader communities.
Directing Leaders
Designing a research agenda requires deep insight into the intersections of current, foundational knowledge, the interests of funders and grant programs, and the areas of greatest interest to the field. When it comes to research agendas, Basis is the pioneering leader. That’s why Basis was chosen to lead the first Saint Louis Chess Conference in 2024, the largest chess practitioner and research conference ever held. Basis researchers presented multiple projects at this conference and facilitated a Q&A session with the legendary world champion Gary Kasprov.