The game of chess has been played for more than 1,500 years and requires patience, confidence and strategy. These skills along with chess techniques are something Biology teacher Jacob Cantu shares with the students of Chess Club. They meet weekly on Friday’s in the lab during lunch for regular chess matches.

Micah Sue, ‘22, learned how to play chess out of necessity and was surprised by the outcome.

“My friends were playing online during quarantine and I decided to play one of them, I lost,” Sue Said. I was bored during quarantine so I decided to learn the game and realized I liked the game a lot.”

Sue became an unbeatable opponent. So much so, he proposed the idea of a chess club to Cantu and was made president.

“After creating the club, I then decided to become better than all of them and started playing for the sake of becoming the best and I guess I did.” Sue said.

Cantu started to play chess for the enjoyment, the hobby would then expand to connecting the students.

“I was playing chess on chess.com and so was Micah,” Cantu said. “We both wanted to keep playing, so we decided to start a chess club. Now we have it at lunch on Friday’s and compete in tournaments.”

Tyler Maxey, ‘25, has been playing chess for about four years and was eager to join the club once it started.

“You always have to be planning a formation or something to stun your opponent,” Maxey said. “You just always have to be thinking about strategies and what your opponent is doing too.”

Nowadays with chess, people don’t just play face-to-face. Online versions of chess are a great alternative that can teach you how to play, while you are playing.

Maxey started online, like many others who first started to play, but did not know the rules of the game.

“In sixth grade I started out just playing online but now I mostly play on the board because it’s easier,” Maxey said. “I like the competitive aspect of it how wits can help you win a game.”

If you are interested in joining the club, or want to learn how to play chess, head to room 621 to ask Cantu how to join.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Feather (@thefeatheronline)

Reel created by: Cole Blanchfield

To read more from The Feather visit: The private life of Scott Bucher or Joel Sartore: The Modern Noah