The transition from chess being perceived as a game played by nerds to a game respected for requiring extreme mathematical and computational skills has been a rollercoaster ride, not to mention the rise of chess superstars such as Magnus Carlsen.
Pawn your attention to the U of M Chess Club, a club that meets every Monday and Thursday during Fall and Winter semesters. On Thursdays the group meets at VW Social Club, and the Monday meeting locations are announced via Instagram.
Any U of M student can join the club, regardless of experience. Students do not need to bring their own chess sets or clocks, they are provided by the club.
According to club president Abdul Moeez, the club has more than 500 members and five executives. The club also has two senior advisors. Moeez said the range of experience starts with beginners and extends to players with an Elo rating of 2,200.
For beginners, the club offers the opportunity to learn in a relaxed environment, where they can find opponents closer to their own levels. “If you don’t know how to play, the executives will most likely help you,” said Moeez. He also emphasized that he has witnessed club executives spending hours teaching others basic openings.
Most meetings do not follow any specific formats, with the students mutually deciding the kind of format they want to play. However, the club does hold competitive tournaments throughout the school year. For competitive events, Moeez said that the club uses rapid chess with a 10-minute starting time and 15-second increment after each move, or a 10|15 format.
Moeez said the club offers a nice break from school and work. “Chess club is a great way to make more friends, have a social and relaxed environment, and if you are competitive chess player, it also gives you a chance to compete at chess.”
The club does not have practice sessions. For beginners, Moeez recommends playing longer games and not immediately focusing on speed, analyzing the games afterward and using books and YouTube videos to get better.
However, Moeez did have a realistic take. “It’s a very unique sport, where just because you play a lot doesn’t necessarily mean you will get better, which [means] you actually have to sit and analyze your game.”
As for the role computers have in the sport, Moeez had a pragmatic take. “We have sort of accepted that we can never beat computers and we can just play ourselves.”
Beyond the club’s weekly meetings, they have other events to look forward to, such as the Canadian University Chess Championship where all the student teams from universities across Canada compete against each other.
Moeez shared his experience of travelling to University of Toronto for the 2026 championship, which took place earlier this year from Jan. 16 to 18. He recalled that eight players from the U of M qualified to play in the tournament. Moeez stated that members of the Chess Club were left to cover expenses while representing the university. “I think I paid close to $500 out of pocket,” he added, referring to his own expenses for transportation, accommodation and food. The club also received funding from hosts University of Toronto.
For the upcoming 2027 championship at the University of Waterloo, Moeez said that the club plans on raising external funds and is currently in contact with potential sponsors.
The U of M Chess Club can be found on Instagram @uofmchessclub.
