The Chess Club meets every Wednesday in room C120 to play and learn new skills from one another. Their current informer, junior Atharv Verma, shares how chess engages focus and strategy, while still remaining fun. There is always something new to learn, making it a great activity for anyone looking to challenge themselves and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Chess is a sport with an extremely high skill ceiling. There is no limit to how accelerated a player can become. But, it is a game that can be easily picked up by anyone. The chess club welcomes anyone interested to join them and learn, providing opportunities for advanced and beginners to improve, creating a friendly space for all skills.
“They can join for fun, what chess club is here to do is teach you chess. It’s not going to force you to compete. That’s all up to you,” Verma said.
Senior member Paul Grant is recognized for his performance during the competition held at the University of St. Thomas, the largest chess event held in Minnesota. His strong performance stood out among a highly competitive group of participants.
Grant explained how luck does not determine his success in chess, but the effort he puts into practicing the sport regularly. He explained that practicing consistently, along with support from a community like the chess club, is what helps improve skill and good sportsmanship.
The chess club practices and prepares for upcoming matches, helping a player’s strategic decision-making and critical thinking to plan each move. Over time, this process helps players grow and improve their ability to perform confidently under pressure.
“Be dedicated to it, if you lose a couple of games in a row. You might feel discouraged, but if you keep playing, you’re always gonna get better. So just keep playing and you’ll have fun.” New member sophomore Dane Supina said.
Supina’s dedication is a long-term goal where there will not be immediate changes and results, but commitment and patience toward good improvement. By staying consistent and focused, progress will come overtime, turning into lasting success.
“It doesn’t require a lot of prior knowledge about it. You just need to know how the pieces move,” Verma said.
Chess does not need a lot of outside knowledge because the game is about focus and pattern movements. It is observing and experiencing, so anyone can be successful by watching and studying.
There are many ways to approach your opponent and how you can begin a match. Grant described his approach being “defensive against people that are playing really tacky,” which often gives him an advantage. “They usually make some kind of mistake that pushes me into their kind of territory, and I can probably win from that,” he said.
Everyone has different play styles that they develop based on their strengths and preferences. This makes each game a new and unique experience for every game and opponent.
