The Klitschko brothers, Magnus Carlsen and the children of Bunscoill Ghaelgagh may not appear to have much in common, but all share a love of one thing, chess.

While many seven- to nine-year-olds want to be running around outside, a group of Manx school children are growing further infatuated with the game, reports Sam Turton.

And with the help of chess tutor Andrew Legge and support from billionaire Mark Schienberg, their interest, knowledge and skill is improving.

Andrew travels to the island as part of Chess in Schools and Communities, a charity that states its aim as ’to improve children’s educational outcomes and social development by introducing them to the game of chess’.

I joined the class just as they were coming back into the classroom from afternoon play and was struck by the way the pupils were so keen to get out chess boards and pieces, lining them up against each other in no time at all.

The younger children in the class are sitting and with Andrew Legge, who travels to the island once a week to teach chess in five island primary schools.

The children are learning the basics of pieces and moves, while on the other side of the room, the older children who have been playing since January, are playing with a confidence in their abilities that shows the success of these lessons.

Their teacher, Hayley O’Meara, said: ’I like chess, so I’ve tried to teach them how to play, but Andrew does it in an inventive way with games and problems they have to solve.’

However, it is the benefit to the pupils beyond their understanding of the game that is most important.

Andrew, who has been visiting the school almost every Friday since January, said: ’It is good to see the development from the kids having no idea to being decent players.

’And by practising chess, they are developing their strategic thinking and the ability to plan ahead.’

That development has not gone unnoticed by Hayley, or by the school’s head teacher Julie Matthews. She said that the school was offered the chance to run the sessions by Howard Dobson, a retired teacher, and she ’jumped at the chance’.

Mrs Matthews added: ’The children really enjoy it. At wet play they don’t want to run around in the school, they want to sit and play chess.

’And all the time, they’re thinking and building their concentration levels.’

The children have also taken what they learn home with them, Evie-Grayse Cringle-Preston, aged eight, told me that she plays at home with her dad.

And her friend Fergus, also eight, said he’s started to play his grandad, both say they intend to keep on playing.

However, while the school says it is seeing the benefits, the Department of Education, Sport and Culture will need to be convinced.

The funding provided by Mr Schienberg is due to end in December.

Howard Dobson says there is an understanding that he would match anything the department puts into carry on the scheme beyond its 12-month trial, up to £20,000.

An extension of the scheme is something Andrew is keen to see.

He said: ’I coach primarily in Liverpool, but I would love to keep coming here on Fridays and it would be great if it were possible to expand the scheme into other schools, and there are others who are interested.’

Head teacher Julie Matthews added her support and said: ’It would be great to see more schools involved. The benefits we are seeing is clear.’

While Manx chess coach Harry Minor, from Port Erin, said: ’It’s great to have Andrew here, the children are clearly enjoying it and learning from it.’

Harry is also involved in the Chess Congress, which encourages chess in primary schools, a role he shared with Juan Watterson, the Speaker of the House of Keys, who is also a keen chess player.

Whether the Chess in Schools and Communities support continues, will ultimately come down to if it can be proved successful.

It is currently being trialled at Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, Cronk-y-Berry, Sulby, Willaston and Scoill Vallajeelt primary schools.

It is however unclear if it has a future beyond December.

But what is clear from the deafening roar the children at Bunscoill Ghaelgagh gave when asked if they think it should continue?

A resounding YES!