CHESS is Frank Sears’s first love. In fact, the 79-year-old is often called the father of chess in Trinidad and Tobago. But in addition to this, many also view him as a father figure as he has spent decades mentoring youths.
Sears was born and raised in San Fernando and still lives there. He attended the San Fernando Boys' Primary School, then Presentation College.
He told Sunday Newsday he was always interested in sports and culture.
Describing his love for Trinidad and Tobago’s biggest celebrations, he said, “When I was a pre-teen, I thought the two seasons in Trinidad and Tobago were before Carnival and after Carnival.”
Laughing, he said, "I was playing mas since age six or even younger, and I was in a backyard that produced the leader of Fonclaire Steel Orchestra and all these kind of things.”
But fun aside, his desire to help others remained constant throughout his life.
He was a founding member of groups including Stingray Swim Club and the National Workers Union.
Sears worked at Texaco for several years as an operator, before working for the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union full time and retiring in 2004.
He said it was just before he finished school, he began teaching himself to play chess.
“It blossomed when I went to Pointe-a-Pierre and started to work night shifts. I got more into it and would play there, then I joined Southern Chess Club (SCC).”
Sears is currently the president of the 84-year-old club, and first vice president of the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association.
“I rose up the ranks after than and represented Trinidad in an international tournament in 1972, and then I represented Trinidad and Tobago at two (Chess) Olympiads.
“Chess is my first and best love.”
Sears is a father of four, but several youngsters look up to him as a father figure, which he said he feels a deep sense of gratitude about.
Going back to his time as the founding secretary of Stingray Swim Club, he said it was then he saw just how much sports can “help young people blossom.”
The club produced under-17 world champion Christian Homer. In 2010, Homer copped gold in the boys 50m backstroke at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
The feeling continued when Sears moved on to coaching chess.
“Sports gives you certain attributes like discipline, time management…once you’re able to conquer that, you can have success in any endeavour.
“I try to drive my chess club towards a nation of thinkers. A chess player must not only be a problem solver or critical thinker, but humble and disciplined.
[caption id="attachment_1090229" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Frank Sears head coach of Southern Chess Club with his students, from second left, Adam Ali 13, Josiah Greaves 11, Liam Wildman, nine, and Marcus Jones, 11, in San Fernando on June 12. At left is assistant coach Joanne Crawford. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
He admitted his style of teaching is still very “old school,” but that he feels a “tremendous sense of responsibility” guiding his students.
“I always say, ‘Chess doesn’t make you sma
