Chess, a game of strategy and careful planning, challenges players to think critically about each move. For the University of Wyoming’s Chess Club, however, the game is about more than just tactics – it represents a shared passion and welcoming atmosphere where enthusiasts can come together in an engaging community.
With a motto that has a strong emphasis on inclusivity, the club invites players of all skill levels to join, taking the approach that enjoyment comes above mastery.
“Our motto is all skill levels. Because the best way to get better at chess is to play chess. It doesn’t matter if you’re good. No one’s really good at chess. It’s just about having fun,” said Beck Herman, President of chess club and a grad student.
“I think when people go,Oh, if you want to play chess, you have to be good at it. You have to automatically just like to know everything to do but you don’t you can be like me and just becoming there for fun just looking for a good time,” said Perry Hennigar, a jJunior and the outreach coordinator.
For the members, the environment of the club offers much more than an opportunity to refine their game. It also provides a space to create new friendships and gain support.
“It also helps with school because it helps you think outside the box, works on problem solving, and just like organizing what moves you want to do and how you want to go about,” Hennigar said.
“It definitely helps with friendships.”
As the 2022-23 school year comes to a close, the Chess Club hopes to plan more campus-wide events, such as tournaments and hosting speakers from Wyoming and Colorado.
“I know as a club we would like to see us be able to host more events, tournament level have some guest speakers because there’s a lot of really counting chess players from Cheyenne in Colorado, and maybe having them come down to speak or teach would be really cool. Just more events,” said Herman.
