Fads come and go, trends fade into obscurity, then die out. But some lucky few continue to ingrain themselves in our lives and societies. Chess was created more than a thousand years ago but is still played today. Surely, it’s not just a fad. But in a world of increasing modernization and diverse entertainment, what draws us to this seemingly obsolete game?

Will Vernon, a Sophomore this year, felt the pull of this ancient game. He recalls, “Last year, I joined up for the online chess tournament thing that was going on in Mountain Vista, and after I was wondering if we had a chess club. When I asked around, it seems we did, but it got shut down a couple years back.” Will took upon himself the monumental task of reviving this tradition. On his quest, Will met Mr. Rafac, a fellow chess enthusiast and teacher. To create a club, you need a teacher willing to supervise and a handful of kids willing to join. When asked about how Will revived the club, he explains, “It's not as hard as people think it is. There’s a lot of paperwork that goes into it, but as long as you have a group of people that will already want to play, a sponsor, and a plan, that’s all there really is to it.” With his homework done, Will now had an official club. Today, that little handful of interest has grown into a thriving club of twelve active members.

So what’s with the sudden interest in this antiquated game? It comes down to one word: COVID. Along with many other home activities, chess gained popularity because people had time to play it. But this isn’t the first time chess has made a comeback. In fact, Mr. Rafac relates, “Most schools have a chess club in it. The general pattern is they fade in and out and in and out, which was the case when I was in high school as well. Chess is something that has been around, and I think that there's a longevity to it.”

Chess has intrigued generations upon generations of our ancestors. Mr. Rafac shines a light on the draw of chess when he says, “Chess brings out a person's personality. Which is very interesting. If someone isn’t really outgoing, I can still generally tell a person’s personality by watching them play.” Chess is a strategy game, based on the ability to predict your opponent; it is effectively played in the future. The players are constantly planning a few steps ahead, trying to anticipate the opponent’s mistakes. This creates a certain connection between players. To know your opponent’s moves you must know how they think, what kind of risks they take, and the strategies they prefer. In a way, it is like becoming them. The need for deep connections such as these is inherently human. To some, chess fulfills this need, and it might for you.

Join the chess club in the library from 3-4 on Tuesdays.