PRINTKings and queens of strategy
Chess-lovers revel in competition
July 24, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Not every game of chess is as exciting as the final moments of Searching for Bobby Fischer, but many devotees have just as much passion and drive as the movie’s main characters. There are numerous stereotypes of chess players: the nerdy misfits, the loner savants, the decrepit old men playing in the park. But this game’s fans don’t fit into any mold.
Although the roots of chess are widely debated, the game has been around in some form for thousands of years. Its staying power is undeniable, and those who play take it incredibly seriously. It’s also a game that people still play face-to-face, despite the explosion of online and electronic chess. The ways people get involved with chess, however, vary from person to person.
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“My grandmother bought me a chess set for Christmas when I was nine,” says Tim Campbell, an instructor at the Mid-Missouri Chess Academy, which meets in Columbia. Now, Campbell teaches the next generation of chess players the intricacies of the game and holds competitions to help them gain rankings.
Neil Fox, a highly ranked chess player, had a different experience. “My dad must have taught me when I was very young, and then the principal of my elementary school was very enthusiastic,” Fox says. “He organized a club and got us kids playing at break times, especially when it was raining.”
Once chess players are drawn into the game, something about it keeps them coming back. MU Chess Club President Brayt Madenwald relishes the chance to face off against peers in an arena where skill is the only thing that matters. “It’s an avenue in my life to compete,” he says. “In chess, everyone has the ability to logically analyze the board; it’s a level playing field. Other competitive activities or — dare we say — sports don’t offer that.”
Campbell loves the challenge of tournaments, where he gets to play opponents with various styles. “I didn’t have a good way to connect with chess players,” he says. “It gave me a variety of different players to play with and skill levels that were different than folks in my family.”
Fox appreciates the fresh perspective that each game can provide. “It’s endlessly varied,” he says. “Every game is different, and every opponent is, too. There’s always something new to learn.”
For Thomas Rehmeier, vice president of the Jefferson City Chess Club, camaraderie is one of the most rewarding aspects of the game. “It’s a great feeling to go into a tournament hall and have everyone know your name,” he says.
It’s this mentality that keeps some players in Columbia participating in face-to-face games instead of playing online versions.
Stop by downtown coffee shops such as Coffee Zone, Lakota or Cherry Street Artisan, and there’s a chance you’ll see a game of chess underway. “It’s great to have places where you can go do that,” Campbell says. “They don’t essentially have formal times, but people can go to play there.” Fox echoes this sentiment. “Playing in coffee houses is a venerable tradition which generally accompanies a more fun, social side to the game,” he says.
And in this spirit, chess players welcome new faces. “Anyone is welcome,” Madenwald says. “We love to teach; we love to play.”
