Nine-year-old Alec McCue concentrates on his next move while his opponent hastily makes one of his own. It’s a Wednesday night and McCue is ready to win. But unlike most kids his age, McCue isn’t playing video games – he’s playing chess.
The Boca Raton Chess Club and members of the FAU Chess Club meet twice weekly to play at FAU’s student union on the Boca campus. The Boca Club’s director Jon Haskel says 20 to 60 players ages five to 92 come out for the Wednesday or Friday night games.
McCue is here for Wednesday night blitz (speed) chess because he says, “It’s best to play fast.” Haskel, McCue’s opponent for the round, says blitz games are also a great learning experience for the kids.
“My dad taught me how to play chess and I beat him two weeks after that,” McCue says. “It’s really fun playing with someone older.”
The club meets every Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. for blitz chess on the main floor of the student union and upstairs on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. for tournament games. The Boca Raton Club is affiliated with the U.S. Chess Federation and the Florida Chess Association, participating in rated 90-minute tournament games. Those interested in competing in the four-week tournament must pay an entrance fee. The general entrance fee to compete is $15 and $10 for FAU students.
“We also set up extra boards both nights for those who want to play free casual chess,” Haskel says. “Everyone is welcome to come play, we won’t turn anyone away.”
FAU Chess Club Adviser William McLean says the FAU team will compete this fall in the Pan-American Intercollegiate Competition.
“It’s the most prestigious tournament available to college students,” says McLean, who has advised the team since 2003. “We have two chess masters playing this year and the team has a good chance at placing in the top four or six.”
The club’s president, Ph.D student Mario Marshall, says the best part of competing is the mental battle.
“I started playing chess seriously when I was 16 years old and I love it,” Marshall says. “We have about 20 active students in the club and we should go a long way this year.”
FAU’s Chess Club will participate in several local ranked tournaments before driving to Miami for the Pan-American Intercollegiate Competition in December.
For more information about the Boca Raton Chess Club and game times, ” click here . For more information about FAU’s Chess Club, contact staff adviser William McLean at (561) 297-2236 or [email protected].
