Guelph ChessPals are making their mark as a new chess club open to all levels, leaving out the competitive edge.
Paul Angerilli first learned to play chess in his elementary school years and wanted to start his first chess club in Grade 8. He didn’t get approval from his school principal.
Not to fear, chess was still a part of Angerilli’s life when he entered high school at GCVI where plenty of students would play chess during their lunch hour.
During this time in the 90s, Deep Blue was on Angerilli’s radar. Deep Blue was a computer AI programmed to play chess. The machine defeated Garry Kasparov, who was the Russian chess grandmaster at the time.
“That's kind of one of the things that kept me playing,” said Angerilli.
As an educational assistant at St. Peter’s Catholic School, he saw the value of teaching chess and creating a space for beginner players to hone their skills.
“I want to kind of popularize it more in Guelph for everybody. As opposed to just like really good players, or league players or certain niche players,” he said.
This isn’t the first chess club in Guelph, there is the Guelph Chess Club who meet at the University of Guelph and a chess club with the Guelph Wellington Seniors' Association.
Angerilli said the goal of the club is to have fun. There are just over 30 members in the group's Facebook page.
“It'll give people a chance to play that maybe wouldn't ordinarily play,” he said. "The more people can feel comfortable playing and not getting destroyed every game."
Angerilli welcomes people with different 'chessabilities.'
He is trying to set up a place where the club can meet in the winter. He’s hoping to set up at a local cafe but nothing is confirmed yet.
The first time the club met there were people of all ages, grandparents brought their grandchildren and they all played together. The club played over 10 games at Eramosa River Park.
Eventually the club will host chess tournaments.
“I like to kind of balance it out and move quickly early. Then if it's a tough situation later, then you get into to really think it out,” said Angerilli about his chess strategy when there is a timer involved.
Angerilli hopes more people join the club and to find an indoor space for them to play.