On Saturday, September 9, 2017, members of MSMS and the community gathered at Books and Boards in downtown Columbus to play the timeless game of chess. This new community-wide club, created by MSMS senior Gary Nguyen, is open to anyone and everyone, regardless of experience or age.

MSMS senior Jessica Smith thoroughly enjoyed this experience and is looking forward to improving her chess skills.

She says she “liked the bookshop. There was plenty of space for us to play chess and hang out. Only a few people came, but it made the meeting more personal and welcoming to new players.”

Nguyen discusses his hopeful view on the club’s turnout. “The first meeting was a great start to kicking off the Columbus Community Chess Club. The turnout might have been low, but we all have to start somewhere. The key to building a great club is to find that initial momentum and capitalize on it as you go along. I have high hopes for the future and the expansion of the club as we look to spread our love for classic game to the local community and perhaps even beyond,” Nguyen expresses.

Fellow MSMS senior and participant in the club, Aidan Dunkelberg, says, “I had a great time. I was hoping to go and be able to play other people who were passionate about chess and I was not disappointed. Overall, I thought it was very well organized.”

Dunkelberg goes on to point out how beneficial the club is for the lovers of chess and books alike. “I think Books and Boards is the perfect place to host the Community Chess Club. It’s a win-win; the venue is set up for people to be able to sit and play games, so the atmosphere is really nice, and having the chess club there attracts business to the bookstore.”