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One of the most energetic spots on a Tuesday evening in east London's Brick Lane isn't a restaurant or a streetwear brand pop-up, it's a chess gathering – or rather a chess and nightlife hybrid, precisely speaking.

Knight Club represents the unlikely fusion between the classic game and the city's fervent evening entertainment scene. It was started by a young entrepreneur, in his late twenties, who launched his first chess club in the summer of 2023 at a smaller bar in Aldgate, a short distance from the current location at Café 1001 on the iconic lane.

“My goal was to create chess clubs for individuals who share my background and those my age,” he said. “Usually, chess is only put in spaces that are full of senior individuals, which isn't inclusive enough.”

On the first night, there were just 8 boards between 16 people. Now, a “good night” at the regular Knight Club will attract approximately two hundred eighty people.

Upon arrival, Knight Club seems closer to a music night than a chess club. Cocktails are being served and tunes is playing, but the chessboards on every table are not just decorative or there as a novelty: they are all in use and encircled by a line of spectators waiting for their turn.

One regular, in her mid-twenties, has frequented the club regularly for the last four months. “I had little understanding of chess before I came here, and the first time I ever played, I competed in a game against a expert player. That was a quick win, but it left me intrigued to study and continue enjoying chess,” she noted.

“The event is about half networking and 50% people actually wishing to engage in chess … It is a pleasant way to unwind, which avoids going to a typical nightspot to meet other people my generation.”

A Game Revitalized: The Ancient Game in the Modern Era

In recent years, chess has been firmly established in the societal zeitgeist. Its appeal of online chess proliferated during the global health crisis, making it one of the most rapidly expanding online games globally. In popular culture, the streaming series a hit show, as well as Sally Rooney’s recent novel Intermezzo, have created a distinct imagery associated with the sport, which has drawn in a new generation of players.

However much of this newfound appeal of the chess night is not always about the intricacies of the play; instead, it is the simplicity of connecting with others that it facilitates, by taking a seat and engaging with a person who could be a total stranger.

“It's a great Trojan horse,” remarked Jonah Freud, co-founder of Reference Point in London, a bookstore, library, coffee house and lounge, which has hosted a popular chess club every Wednesday since it began several years back. Freud’s objective is to “remove chess from its elite status and transform it into like pool in a dive bar”.

“It's a really simple vehicle to meet people. It somewhat removes the weight of the need of conversation from socializing with people. You can do the uncomfortable bit of making an introduction and chatting to a new acquaintance over a game rather than with no kind of shared activity involved.”

Expanding the Network: Social Gatherings Beyond London

In Birmingham, a similar initiative is a recurring chess night taking place at a city cafe, near the downtown area. “Our observation was that individuals are seeking spaces where you can socialize, interact and enjoy a fun evening beyond visiting a bar or club,” said its creator and organiser, Karan Singh, in his early twenties.

Alongside his friend Abdirahim Haji, 21, Singh purchased chessboards, created promotional materials and started the chess club in January, during his last year of college. In less than a year, he said Chesscafé has expanded to draw over one hundred young participants to its events.

“Such a venue has a specific reputation associated with it, about it being quiet. We really try to move in the contrary way; it's a convivial get-together with chess involved,” he said.

Learning and Engaging: An Alternative Cohort of Players

For many, chess clubs are an entry point to the activity. One participant, 27, is learning how to participate in chess with other attenders of chess night at the venue. She became curious in the game was sparked after an enjoyable night moving to music and playing chess at a previous the club's events.

“It's a strange concept, but it works,” she commented. “It promotes in-person exchanges rather than screen-based activities. It's a no-cost third space to meet strangers. It's welcoming, one doesn't need to necessarily be skilled at chess.”

She humorously compared the popularity of chess among young people to the superficial image of the “ostentatious intellectual”, an effort to simulate intellectualism while signaling the appearance of “hipness”. If the chess craze has fostered a genuine interest in the sport isn't something she's quite convinced by. “It is a wholesome trend, but it’s largely a trend,” she observed. “When you compete against opponents who are really serious about it, it quickly becomes less fun.”

Serious Gaming and Community

It might seem like a bit of fun and games for individuals looking to use a game set as a networking tool, but competitive participants do have their place, albeit away from the main party area.

Lucia Ene-Lesikar, 22, who assists in organise the club,says that more competitive attenders have formed a league table. “Participants who are part of the competition will play one another, we'll progress to early rounds, semi-finals, and then we'll eventually have a champion.”

Ryames Chan, 23, is a competitive player and chess instructor. He has been in the league for about a year and plays at the club nearly every week. “This offers a welcome alternative to playing serious chess; it provides a sense of community,” he expressed.

“It is interesting to observe how it evolves into more of a communal activity, because previously the sole people who engaged in chess were those who didn't go outside; they simply remained home. It's usually just a pair playing on a chessboard …

“What I like about here is that you're not actually playing against the computer, you're facing live opponents.”