Chess tournament returns to Bozeman for the first time since COVID-19

Prior to this article, my only experience with chess was watching the ‘Queen's Gambit.’ If I am being honest, I only watched it because I am fascinated by the fact that Thomas Broadie Sangster never ages and, as a redhead, Anya Taylor-Joy is one of the few natural blonde actresses I will accept into the secret club of redheads.

Last week, my interest in the game was reignited as I learned about the local chess scene in Bozeman and the artistry of the game. I humbly realized that chess is so much more than the nerd paradise I once assumed. Instead, chess is a game with a deep history in strategic political moves, art and cultural influence and — may I even say — the most brutal sport in the world.

According to the U.S. Chess Trust, humans have been playing some version of chess for more than 1,400 years. Chess is one of the world's oldest and most popular games, with cultural and intellectual significance that few other activities can match.

The popularity of chess increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to be a popular pastime. MSU Chess Club President Isaac Boyd explains “In the last couple of months, chess has exploded online, and I have also started to see more people playing chess around campus.”

Eras of chess can be directly related to those of art and politics. In the 15th century, with the rise of powerful queens globally, the queen transformed from the weakest piece on the board to the strongest.

In 1972, at the height of the Cold War, chess was at its peak political moment. The game played between Bobby Fisher of America and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union not only marked a historical time where the soviets no longer held supreme in the game, but stood as a metaphor for the conflict between the communist regime and democracy.

Those unfamiliar with the game may view it as simply a classic game with quaint pieces on a checkerboard. Little do they know, chess is the art of war, played out with excruciating precision. Chess is a game of mental manipulation; players will employ tactics of icy deminers to intimidate opponents directly across from them.

The brutality of the game not only describes the spirit behind the game but the moves themselves. One famous play renders the name "The Perfect King Hunt" or "Fatal Attraction," for the play itself is so exquisitely brutal that no other name would match its tactical brilliance.

Unlike other games, there are no hidden questions. All plays are out in the open for all to see and for you to answer. There are no cards close to your chest. Instead, there are 16 simple pieces at your disposal and countless play possibilities.

According to the National Museums of Liverpool, there are more possible variations of chess games than atoms in the observable universe.

Boyd explained, "There is something about the human psyche and basic optimization and getting rewarded from point A to point B. There are little tasks in each game that when you succeed, you get a hit of dopamine."

If you want an environment in which you can play chess with other students, the MSU Chess Club meets every Friday from 2 - 4 p.m. in the SUB cafeteria and is always looking for new members. "Chess is open to everyone. Right now, we have a lot of beginners in the club and people from all walks of life," Boyd said. "It's almost like living life. You do not know what's gonna happen next, but you continue to make progress along the way."

If you are already consumed by the game and want to take your skills to the next level, there is a tournament on March 4-5 called the Tall Pawns Open at the Holiday Inn Express. This tournament is rated, meaning in order to play, you must be a U.S. Chess Federation member and receive a chess rating from them.

According to Kevin Kuehnel, the president of the Montana Chess Association, this is the first tournament the Montana Chess Association has been able to host since the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are incredibly excited to have it back in Bozeman.

"Last year, we had around 40 participants, which was a good attendance," Kuehnel said. In 2021, Ben Vogel, a graduate student at MSU, won the championship. Currently, the student state champion is University of Montana student Rasual Nazriev.

“In Montana, we have had a number of players come to our tournaments as part of their plan to play a tournament in every state, and there are Montana players who met at tournaments and have been friends for decades as a result,” said Kuehnel.

According to Boyd, "There is a mystery to it but also a solidity that anyone can play chess." So, break up the monotony of midterms, get brutal and learn to play chess or hone your skills at the tournament this week. For registration details for the tournament, visit montanachess.org.