The chess players of PVCC welcome you

The game of chess is often thought of as an elitist pastime, unfriendly to beginners; however, the PVCC Chess Club flips the script on one of the world’s greatest strategy games. 

The Chess Club meets on Wednesdays in room M158. Starting at noon, the organizers set up several tables around the room, each boasting a chess board. Players face each other on a first-come-first-serve basis. All player levels interact throughout the course of the 1 hour meeting. This means that every game can be a learning experience. According to Kevin Jelinek, the president of the Chess Club, the entire vibe is very relaxed. Many of the regular players are new to chess themselves, so there is no need to be intimidated. 

It is not necessary to sign up for a table or arrive at a certain time. People drift in and out as their schedules allow. For any interested in joining Chess Club, Jelinek encourages them to just stop by and say hello. He said, “No one has to sign up or sign in. There’s no commitment or anything like that, you can just come in and talk to people.” 

Jelinek has an interest in seeing the expansion of the Chess Club in the future. He would like to add another meeting day and a time to discuss strategy and game-play in a more structured way. There is also the possibility of participation in tournaments if other club members would like to. Jelinek said, “I would love to … engage in in-person tournaments somewhere or at the very least virtual tournaments.”

Anyone who is interested should not be intimidated by the idea of Chess Club. Everyone there is happy to chat over the chessboard and more experienced players are always willing to give tips to less experienced players. If a student has specific questions they are welcome to email them to Jelinek at kjj2352@email.vccs.edu or the club’s staff adviser Zack Beamer, associate professor of mathematics, at zbeamer@pvcc.edu.