Chess club makes a move on campus

Pratiksha Joshi

The Troy Univeristy Chess Club will be hosting “Chess Night” on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in Patterson Hall, Room 107.

There will be discussions on how to become involved in the club, the basic rules of the game, and game strategies.

Jonathon Rasberry, a sophomore accounting major from Birmingham and chess club president, founded the club in 2015.

“Chess has always been so exciting for me, maybe it’s the level of competition and the time pressure,” said Rasberry. “I think it helps you with academics, concentration, tests, making decisions and strategizing.”

The club currently has 20 members, to include participation from several international students from Nepal, India and Nigeria.

Bikash Rumay, a freshman economics major from Nepal and chess club member, believes the Troy University Chess Club provides opportunities for personal growth.

“The club meetings are really productive; they helped me develop and improve my skills,” said Rumay.

“There are all kinds of people here, from amateurs to professionals and they’re all really helpful and friendly.”

The club meetings are held on alternative Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Trojan Center Food Court.

Raspberry stated that all students to are welcome to attend meetings and to join the club at any time.

“When I was going to the meeting for the first time, I thought that I wouldn’t want to go again because I assumed people would so much better than me…and I haven’t played chess since my childhood,” said Nathan Smith, a senior computer science major from Florala.

“But surprisingly, I won a couple of games and ended up loving it.”