GAMBIT WITH A VIBE Since its launch final yr, London chess group Knight Membership has drawn “an entire vary of individuals” to its Tuesday gathering at Fleet Studios. —REUTERS
LONDON—Combining dance music, banter and one of many world’s oldest pastimes, London chess group Knight Membership attracts dozens of gamers every week, making a social area its organizers say is much-needed by town’s youthful generations.
The group has rapidly grown right into a cultural hub since launching final yr, drawing over 100 gamers to its weekly Tuesday classes the place dwell DJ units compete with the clatter of chess items on boards.
In a world dominated by digital communication, the membership—run largely by volunteers below the age of 25—needs to supply a bodily different to scrolling on screens.
“Having a recreation, or having one thing to bond over, or to start out a dialog, allows actually deep connections to be comprised of the get-go,” mentioned 21-year-old organizer Lucia Ene-Lesikar.
“There’s numerous artistic folks, however there’s additionally individuals who work in finance or work in tech or work in healthcare—so there’s an entire vary of individuals.”
House for connection
The membership’s attraction lies not simply within the recreation itself, however in the way it gives one thing fashionable life is usually lacking, founder Yusuf Ntahilaja advised Reuters.
“Knight Membership, at the start, is an area for folks to attach and collect—chess being the medium and an important approach to join—however greater than something, simply offering … a primary, or societal, human want,” he mentioned.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
