In New York City Chess is King
On a sunny, picture perfect day along the Hudson River at Riverside Park South, I sat with Russell Makofsky and his charming wife Rochelle and talked chess. Mr. Russell Makofsky, the founder of New York City Chess spoke with a passion and a vision that one rarely sees except when speaking to young and inspired entrepreneurs. The outdoor café busted with walkers and bikers enjoying the fresh air, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the shimmering waters of the Hudson flowing past them. When we spoke of chess and Russell’s plans for the future of the chess academy, it was as if he captured a force of energy emanating from the park’s atmosphere and focused it on his vision of the future for his company.
Mr. Russell Makofsky is from Mastic Beach, Long Island in Eastern Suffolk County. From what he has explained, getting ahead there meant you has to focus on the positive people and the positive events that were often hidden in the background. Coming from a family where education and faith are valued priorities in the home and community, Russell had the good fortune of having a strong foundation, built on hard work, trust, and pride in how one comports himself. He did well in academics and excelled early on as a tennis player, a cross country runner, and most importantly to him, a basketball player.
He recalls for me having convinced his father to have a full-size basketball court built on the land behind his. The wooded area would need to be cleared; asphalt put down and basketball hoops ordered and set in. If you can figure out how to do all that at a very modest cost, being prudent and reasonable was also stressed at home, then I’ll consider it, his father explained to him. Not being the least bit deterred, Russell, then a young man in tenth grade took up the project with bounding energy. The court still stands today and is often used by community kids just wanting to “shoot some hoops.” That attitude and persistence still drives him when making decisions for his New York City Chess.
We walked on the newly renovated pier and stopped to look north viewing the George Washington Bridge, majestically spanning the river between the Bronx and New Jersey. With this New York symbol of achievement as a backdrop, I asked Mr. Makofsky when he first became interested in chess. “I remember playing chess at family gatherings and also playing with friends of the family. I was about six at the time. I knew I like the game when it became my preferred activity outside of sports.”
I asked him when he first thought of the idea of starting a chess academy for young people in the city. He recounts coming to New York to work on his MBA at New York Tech, in 2007. While going to school, he also coached for several private basketball leagues. “It was then I realized that I could apply the same approach to chess as many organizations were applying to a variety of other youth programs throughout the city. I liked coaching and teaching this age group and thought it would be nice to attempt a mainstream approach to teaching the kids chess while making it fun, social, and competitive.” “What obstacles did you encounter starting a small business, during a severe economic down turn?” I asked.
“There were many challenges to face in the first several years. However, the one that stands out,was developing a strong customer base and getting our name and philosophy into the New York City market.”
“What do you see in the future for Chess NYC Inc.?” I inquired, anticipating his vision for the future of his company.
“I see the company growing within our present format. I continue to focus on quality chess education in our existing programs. We have worked hard to develop a relationship with more than forty schools throughout the five boroughs, in addition to our second summer chess camp soon to start in East Hampton, NY. Now it is about cultivating these relationships and providing vibrant chess communities and opportunities for our students within each of these schools and programs. I have witnessed first-hand what we have accomplished with kids from all backgrounds. My vision is to ensure that this continues as we grow the business and expand our curriculum, offering Summer Camps and supervised instruction at all levels. Chess teaches players to be focused, disciplined, well mannered, and responsible. Moreover, it teaches the player to think ahead and to see the whole picture, not just a tiny part of it. It teaches planning and inculcates critical thinking skills so much needed in the fast paced hi -tech world in which we live. I see us developing in those areas, before we put anything else in place. It’s the shots that go in that count, and a few three’s aren’t too bad either.”
It was time to depart; however, I had one final request of this enthusiastic and insightful young man. “Would you like to play a game of chess?” I asked as we walked up toward sixty second street. As it turns out we did play. After four moves I was in checkmate. We shook hands, said our good-bys, after which I headed for the downtown subway on Columbus Circle. How did he do that, I thought.
Robert David
Port Jefferson ,NY
May 6th, 2013
