The COVID-19 pandemic arguably represents society’s most unexpected turn of events in recent memory. Lockdowns and quarantines had people searching for ways to pass time – cue the resurgence of chess, a timeless board game that has always found its place within culture, but has made a particularly notable splash among youth in recent years. Locally, the Chigorin Chess Club finds itself among a blooming community, finding its roots within the diverse Russian-speaking community of Vancouver but open to everyone of all ages.

With World Chess Day just around the corner on July 20, as well as the centenary of the FIDE (International Chess Federation), the Chigorin Chess Club has been able to witness the recent, global evolution of the game’s landscape among youth as it has played out here in Vancouver.

The club’s president, Konstantin Pyryaev, moved to Canada in 2005. Along with his friends, Chigorin Chess Club was born soon after, named for the famed Russian chess player Mikhail Chigorin.

The club now boasts about a dozen dedicated members, as well as many others of all ages, and has served as a welcoming cornerstone to the community. The group has attracted old veterans back to the board game, some who haven’t played in decades, as well as young players newer to the game.

“A lot of players came up during [the pandemic], some who haven’t played chess for 20 years,” he also affirms this period’s role in the resurgence of chess among youth.

“The two biggest factors in chess’s [recent] uptake were the pandemic lockdowns and [shows such as] Queen’s Gambit,” he explains, referring to how the dramatization of chess in popular culture and media has helped attract new players to the game.

Increasing takeup among youth

Another important element contributing to the evolution of the hobby’s landscape among youth is the uptake in online chess. Entrancing viewers with their organized tournaments and events, popular Twitch and YouTube personalities have used this mode to entertain their fanbase.

Appealing to youthful audiences through digital means, online chess has also allowed users to engage with the game, including learning and refining strategies from online sources, without needing to own a board.

Social media sites such as TikTok and Instagram have helped popularize the sport by spreading videos and short clips of chess personalities and match highlights. Whether the publicity is constructive or not, it’s undoubtedly contributing to the popularity of the pastime among youth and accelerating the evolution of the landscape from one generation to the next. Pyryaev’s second venture, e2-e4! Chess for Kids, argues for chess on their website as a healthy activity for kids, building independence, focus and creative thinking among others.

In keeping with the spirit of the game, Konstantin Pyryaev plans to bring new fun to the Chigorin Chess Club, including a championship for kids and more, especially near Christmas.

“I have students, and I’ll be hosting a championship [for them soon]. Some of my students are Russian-speaking or have Russian-speaking parents, but everyone is welcome,” he explains.

Online forms of chess often propose more novel formats of playing chess, such as blitz, rapid and others, which are modes which mainly consist of playing on tighter time constraints than traditional chess, thereby offering a fresher perspective to matches which are widely being integrated into events among clubs. Chigorin will even be using this concept in an upcoming event.

“One of my favourite events, called Chess’n’run, is where you play [timed] chess with a clock, [making the game] more intensive and fun for kids,” he says.

Institutions across the world are organizing similar activities for World Chess Day on the 20th of July. On that same day, Chigorin will be hosting Chess’n’Run for Chess International Day at the Richmond Olympic Oval, open to families and people of all ages. Having previously organized matches with the chess clubs at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia, Pyryaev hopes to perhaps rekindle past events.

The International Chess Federation is also celebrating its centenary this year, further appealing chess to the new generation by introducing numerous tournaments at schools in India, China, Colombia and many more.

“The [scene] is blooming,” Pyryaev deems, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

For more information on the Chigorin Chess Club, visit: www.chigorin.ca