President of Israel Shimon Peres at the Shevah-Mofet Chess Academy |
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Thursday, 04 June 2009 12:57 |
It is not often that the head of state drops in at a chess school or club. Last week Shimon Peres, the ninth and current President of the State of Israel, visited the Shevah-Mofet Chess Academy, a high school in Tel Aviv established in 1946, where he was briefed on the aims and goals of the programme by GM Boris Alterman, former student and advisor of Garry Kasparov. Some 200 students attend mandatory chess lessons as part of the regular school program. 20 students enjoy a special chess program of six hours a week, given by IM Mark Berkovich, national coordinator of the junior squad, and other trainers. The academy team recently won the Israel championship for high schools.
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