UO Chess Club members work out together one night each week, but they don’t pump iron or pound the pavement. Instead, they exercise their minds.
The group meets every Wednesday during the school year at 6 p.m. in the EMU Fishbowl. I sat across from club member and sophomore computer and information science major Ross McClure at the most recent gathering — as he slowly, deliberately plotted my demise.
“Look at the board,” he growled, exasperated, eying my king. “I’m trying to help you!”
But there was no helping me. Given McClure’s 14 years of practice, the competition was over before it had even begun.
McClure, who has been playing the game since childhood, said his decision to study at the University was largely determined by the fact that the school had an active chess group.
“That was one of the criteria I was basing my decision on,” he said.
McClure added that he enjoys chess because it consistently keeps him interested.
“It’s an engaging game,” he said. “It’s not a game you can learn over the course of a week and get bored with in a month.”
Brian Shartz, who has played with the UO Chess Club for several years, focuses intently on his next move during a game at the Fishbowl.
Club director and Center for Housing Innovation research assistant Stephen Lamb agreed. He has been playing the game for more than 30 years. Lamb said chess is a good way for students to develop their skills in diverse areas.
“It keeps your wits sharp,” he said. “For college students, it is a good way to look at strategy and planning. There’s a unique dynamic that goes on — it applies to other situations indirectly.”
The club, which has roughly 30 members on its mailing list and 10 who attend meetings regularly, has participated in tournaments with Lane Community College, Oregon State University and, most recently, a simultaneous match against South Eugene High School national champions Oleg Zaikov and Morgan Griffiths. Zaikov and Griffiths played a “Simul” game, meaning they each competed with up to six opponents at once.
“(Griffiths and Zaikov) won all of them,” Lamb said. “They kicked butt.”
Lamb emphasized that everyone, from national champions to novices, is welcome to join weekly meetings, and that student status is not required for membership. He added that a basic knowledge of the board and pieces is useful, but the group “would welcome anybody who has an interest.”
South Eugene High School senior Michael Davidson joined the UO Chess Club this year. He said he enjoys the challenging opportunities the game provides.
“It’s so creative,” he said. “There’s always room for new moves. It’s completely accessible.”
He added that the meetings’ relaxed atmosphere is a welcome escape from hardcore practice.
University graduate student Stephan Dickert adds his 20 years of chess-playing experience to the UO Chess Club.
“You talk all the time,” he said. “It’s just a release from serious chess sometimes.”
McClure said he also enjoys the club’s social aspects, but the true draw simply comes from the game itself.
“You get together, you play chess,” he said. “That’s about the extent of it. But that’s enough.”
For more information, visit the UO Chess Club Web site at http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~chess/.
Contact the Pulse editor at [email protected].
