Chess Sets for the Kids

By: Keenan Burkley

"Check Mate."

"What?! I only made one move, how can that be?!?"

I only ever witnessed Sanjay play one game of chess which he won after making only two moves. Granted, his opponent was an 11 year old from my 6th grade class, but that quick game didn't dampen anyone's spirit.

When I told Sanjay my students were stoked on chess, he asked if I needed any more chess sets for my class. I did. The following week he showed up to my school with ten brand new chess sets. My class went wild, we dropped everything we were doing, and everyone started playing. The self-proclaimed best player in my class, Sebastian, challenged Sanjay to a match. The class gathered around and watched in awe at Sebastian’s swift defeat.

Sanjay helped instill a love of chess into the students in my class that year. A few of them went on to win regional tournaments, and some students still visit me only to put me in checkmate about as fast as Sanjay did to Sebastian.

All the generosity, enthusiasm, and love Sanjay shared with the world with live on through others for a long time to come. Rest easy brother.