Jing's Gambit: Players Trade Pieces at the Stylo Chess Club
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Since its transition away from independent film screenings, Camera Stylo as come to be known as a home to Spittoon readings and events by Beijing’s literati. But lately, a different sort of intellectual activity has been taking place in the café and bar – games of chess.
The chess club that's sunk its heels into the bar began to meet in the summer of 2020 as online chess began to take off around the world – first due to COVID-19 and a need to entertain oneself indoors and later boosted again by the release of The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. But for some Beijing-based enthusiasts, there had long been a need for casual gatherings around the board – particularly for English-language speaking players. Even though the capital is home to a handful of the top chess players in the world, formal chess tournaments can be difficult for foreigners to meet qualifications for, and most open tournaments are populated nearly entirely by children, so meeting other players who might want to sit down for a couple of games on the weekend was a challenge.Player's battle it out in one of Camera Stylo's first chess tournaments
Founder David Burgess says he’s pleased to see the number of players increase over the past few months, as well as to see a good mix of cultures. “At our knockout tournament, we had nearly every continent covered,” he boasts.
Burgess has a tough game against a very talented young player
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Burgess initially started the meet-ups at Side Street after a few attempts to meet up with pals – including now co-organizer Felipe Hurtado Sierra, one of the club’s strongest players – began falling flat. The club moved to Camera Stylo when Hurtado Sierra began to teach lectures on opening gambits in the bar’s upstairs space, and the players found that the quiet of the venue lent itself better to chess playing.
Hurtado Sierra sets up for the teams tournament at Chez Soi
Players partake in a casual spat in between tournament games
“The team event at Chez Soi has a special place in my heart now. It really brought the club closer together,” says Hurtado Sierra. Still, for him, the real fun is in the speedier tournaments. “Any event that involves blitz chess (under 3 minutes) is more exciting if you add beer!”
The teams tournament had quite the turn-out!
Hurtado Sierra retired from competitive chess in 2011 (“If one can ever really do so”), but the club has ensured that chess stays a part of his life. “Sometimes,” he says,” all you need is a friendly club to revive your love for the game and forget the fierce tournaments, long training sessions, and thick books.”
Whether you fancy yourself Beijing’s next Beth Harmon, want to take the skills you’ve honed online to an over-the-board setting, or are just curious about how the pieces move, you can get involved by contacting Burgess via WeChat (ID: birdseed45). The casual games will continue at Camera Stylo, and if you're looking for a fun tournament, look no further than the upcoming (date TBD) bughouse tournament that will pit pairs of players against one another in this take-a-piece, give-it-to-your-partner variant. Additionally, this Saturday at 2pm, players will face off at Camera Stylo in a Fischer Random tournament, meaning that the starting piece order will be randomized.
Oh, and be sure to bring along your mates.READ: SportJing Recap: The China Rugby Tournament's Two-Dozen Team Brawl
Images: David Burgess, Joey Knotts
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