What started as a few enthusiastic students seeking a place to practice chess with each other during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into an accomplished club with tournament victories and a tight-knit community. Chess Club’s advisor, Mr. Greene, talked about a recent tournament called the Halloween Gambit, in which Vestal placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. “It was an amazing event,” he said, and both teams, Vestal and Chenango Valley, were extremely professional and friendly. Preparation began at meetings, students playing casual tournaments after school on Mondays and Wednesdays, and during their lunch periods, some played against Mr. Greene, asking him for advice. This year also marks the first time they have created t-shirts to promote the club at VHS, aiming to raise funds for new equipment and explore more opportunities across the state.
When asked what he hopes students would take away from being part of Chess Club, Mr. Greene said how he hopes it brings a place for friends and social interactions, but also that it builds “important skills and qualities that will carry into the future”. His advice for students who want to join Chess Club is that “it doesn’t matter what experience level you have, if you’ve never played the game before, or been playing for several years… as long as you enjoy playing chess or want to learn, we’re here Mondays and Wednesdays in the commons”.
Chess Club President Thanh Tong-Viet, a junior who has been a part of the club for three years now, says her favorite part of it is the atmosphere. She loves getting to “hang out with friends and learn new tactics” and that “it’s not a really big thing that if you lose, you lose, okay, so what? You still have everyone else there to support you”.
She placed in the recent competition, and spoke about how enjoyable it was too. The club decorated together, hung out, and ate lots of sweets together. When asked about her goals for the remainder of the year, she replied, “We plan to organize larger competitions with more schools, giving everyone the chance to participate.”
Junior Henry Zhou, also a three-year member of the club, emphasized the significant personal growth he’s experienced through Chess Club. When asked about the most important lesson he’s learned, he thoughtfully shared that “it’s a bit personal” for him, explaining that he learned how to control his actions and appreciated how the club challenged him to think more deeply. He concluded with a few parting statements for anyone considering joining the Chess Club, emphasizing that “anyone can join. It’s also a great way to make new friends along the way, and to learn lessons that might help you in your future life.”
