By Mark Hallum
A retired FDNY firefighter is advancing his business to the next level after developing a chess learning system 25 years ago. QuickChess is now moving into the Digital Age where potential enthusiasts can learn the game quickly. They are doing so with the assistance of Women’s World Chess Cup winner Susan Polgar.
Joe Miccio, the inventor of QuickChess, served for 33 years with New York’s Bravest at Ladder 127 in Jamaica and Engine 295 in Whitestone. He recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the company’s transition from producing a physical board game into offering an online platform on which both beginners and experienced players can improve their prowess at the game.
Touting a learning system that only takes 10 minutes to master, QuickChess has won awards for its ability to help players grow, according to the company’s Kickstarter page.
“Chess is an intellectually stimulating game and promotes cognitive growth, studies have shown,” said Miccio. “We’ve sold hundreds of thousands of QuickChess board games globally, and our coming interactive edition—coupled with the World Chess Championship being held in New York—will stimulate a new generation of children and young or even older adults to embrace this centuries-old game.”
In addition to receiving free copies of the board game, contributors to the QuickChess crowdfunding page will be first in line for the online edition, which will be downloadable as an app. High-level supporters will also have the chance to get coaching over Skype or in person from experts such as Polgar.
Kickstarter contributors may also have the opportunity to take on the inventor himself.
“In an era when parents worry about kids spending so much time frivolously online, we are trying to spotlight chess as an intelligent alternative that is actually easy to learn through QuickChess,” he added.
The campaign’s goal is to reach about $55,000 in funding before launching its online format.
“Chess is the world’s most popular board game, challenging minds for an estimated 1,500 years. I expect [QuickChess] will result in a surge of new people interested in learning to play this beautiful game,” said Grandmaster Polgar. “Playing chess has countless benefits. It teaches discipline, it improves concentration, it develops problem-solving and decision-making skills. QuickChess is a quick and easy entrance into a challenging game, especially for kids.”
The QuickChess kickstarter campaign, which launched Nov. 15, already has taken in about $7,000 in contributions.
Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhall
