BOLTON South East MP Yasmin Qureshi is urging more children to enjoy the benefits of chess after helping to kick off a display match against the world’s greatest ever player - Garry Kasparov - at the House of Lords.

Yasmin, who helped set up the All Party Parliamentary Group for Chess (APPG) last year, was on hand to make the ceremonial first move for a specially arranged display against the former world No.1 as part of this week’s 6th London Chess Classic.

She then watched on as a quartet of her colleagues were joined by four pupils from London schools in trying to get the better of Kasparov.

Recent surveys by the charity Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) found pupils as young as seven should be given compulsory lessons in chess amid claims it boosts concentration levels, numeracy and reading comprehension.

And while no one was able to claim a famous victory against Kasparov, Yasmin insists the benefits of the sport for youngsters are plain to see.

“I think it’s really important to have days like this,” said Yasmin. “One of the things we want to do is create a lot of awareness about it so that children are playing chess in schools around the country and it becomes a common part of the school curriculum as opposed to something that happens on small occasions.

“I used to play chess when I was at school but I’m not a serious player at all, so it was nice to make the first move and then sit back and watch.

“It’s a great fun game, and everyone can learn a lot from it. We were very lucky to have Garry here; you can’t get any better than that.

“It’s a lovely historical old game but we’ve found it’s also beneficial for children as well in their schooling, it helps their concentration. It’s a tool, an aid, for learning well.

“I would encourage any school to get involved. Financially it doesn’t cost much but the amount of enjoyment and the benefit that the pupils will gain from it is just immeasurable.”

Research has shown that chess – which is already part of the curriculum in some nations – can dramatically improve pupils’ levels of concentration, boost problem-solving skills and develop their thought processes.

And Kasparov, who became the youngest ever undisputed World Chess Champion in 1985 at the age of 22 and was ranked world No. 1 for 225 out of 228 months, believes the efforts of Yasmin and organisations such as the CSC show how important chess can be.

“This is a great initiative and I have been promoting this idea of having chess as part of the education system around the world,” said the Russian.

“And I am very happy to see the success Chess in Schools and Communities has had so far because it just shows that everyone can see the benefits – parents, headmasters, students and eventually the overall public.

“The benefits of kids playing chess at an early age is quite obvious, it improves their communicative skills, it helps them to appreciate the big picture, to see the outcomes of their actions, they can recognise patterns.”