From Social Distancing to Social Gathering By Ineke Doesburg
I enter the Syston and District Social Club where the Chess Club meets up every Tuesday evening. It’s quite noisy with the Lionesses playing Sweden on the big screen on the back wall. Several tables are filled with people watching the match others are laughing and chatting. At the far end, I see two young lads quietly playing chess. One of them receives coaching from Shabir but his opponent also helps him out. A conversation about the value of the pawns seems to be what’s going on, the aim is to keep the queen on the board by pushing the knight.
From that moment one of the players translates the game into a fantastic story. While staring at the board he softly tells the tale of the knight who is going to die to keep the queen alive. What will happen if we push that knight? You have to make the decision on what to do, but also keep an eye on the consequences that will follow. Just look at that diagonal, the poor bishop has no place to go. What is going to happen to him? But here…look at the squares… I need to follow my plan but also adjust it slightly.
I am no chess player but he totally sucked me into the game with his approach. The coach explains that not every player takes this approach. But it’s all good. No matter your level of experience in the game, you are welcome to join their chess community.
Take your time and enjoy the company and the activity. The game can be long – the longest game is about 37 years – and intense, but one might be each others enemies on the board, and you are friends beyond. And that is exactly how they both end the game.
The storyteller player has to admit defeat, but the atmosphere stays positive and with a big smile they say goodbye and will continue their saga next week.
Would you like to see if this chess club is your game?
Get in touch with ShabirOkhai@gmail.com
https://www.leicestershirechess.org/clubs/syston/