AFTER noticing that children at his martial arts school were spending considerably more time indoors than outside, chess enthusiast Rhys Harvey took it upon himself to organise an event to bring people together in person.
With locals reacting positively to his initial proposal on Facebook, Rhys purchased several boards, posted a notice, and began working to get the brand new Port Stephens Chess Club started.
The results speak for themselves.
Hosted at the Naked Alley Cafe in Nelson Bay, dozens of participants flocked to the club’s second weekly meeting, which took place on Sunday 8 March.
Many local players are new to the game, or have only had the chance to play online, but there is clearly strong demand for in-person meetups.
The event is open to participants of all ages and skill levels, who are free to come and face-off in a battle of wits while chatting and enjoying a coffee or a snack.
Curious onlookers are approaching the venue to watch a game, sometimes joining in.
As participation and support for the initiative grows, Rhys is looking to the future and where to take the Port Stephens Chess Club.
“What I would like to do is to start a local chess tournament, get medals and trophies, see where we can take it.”
The events organised by the club are completely free for everyone to enjoy, and the goal is to keep them free in the future as well.
As more and more members join, Rhys is hoping that they will be able to accumulate more gear, like boards and clocks, to meet the demands of their ever-growing community.
By Nico LOMBARDO
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
