The Game of Kings in the Lions' Den

Two students demonstrate typical chess strategies to interested Chess Club onlookers during an Open House.

Chess Club Gives Students Opportunity To Learn The Royal Game

"Checkmate."

This is the word that every member of the Chess Club loves to say but hates to hear. But behind every checkmate lies a story of strategy, rivalry, and recreation. The Chess Club is more than a congregation of students gathered around a board; it is a place for students to relax their minds and unwind with friends.

The club acts as a lounge for students to unwind by playing a game that requires thought. It offers a rare balance: a chance to relax while still engaging the mind. This helps students to reset after a long school day, giving them space to decompress without completely shutting down their brains. By the time they leave, they’re in a better mindset for homework and the rest of the evening.

According to multiple online sources, approximately 600 million people worldwide play chess, some of whom can be found here at Monsignor Farrell High School.

Every Wednesday after school, members of the club meet in either Mr. Franz’s room or room 110. Each meeting has a quiet and relaxed environment, allowing members to focus on the game or engage in casual conversation. Though Mr. Franz is the club moderator, he is generally hands-off and allows the students to take the lead. Members only have to find a partner or bring a friend for the fun to begin.

But what if you’re a terrible chess player? Not to worry! The Chess Club, first and foremost, is a place to have fun.

"It's a place to relax," said Mark Weiser, '26, who was the club's moderator before graduating last month. "No one here is really spectacular at chess; you don't have to be great at chess, but you get an opportunity to play a game with your friends and socialize with fellow students."

Weiser also went on to say that he learned chess by "training in the mountains with the Tibetan Monks." Apparently, the Chess Club is a great place to sharpen the imagination.

You don't need the training of a Tibetan Monk to play, however. Rookie or master, any student of any skill is welcome. The club is ideal for those seeking an intellectual extracurricular. What matters most is the experience the club provides; it is a space where competition takes a back seat to community.

"...You don't have to be great at chess, but you get an opportunity to play a game with your friends and socialize..."

- Mark Weiser, '26

This mentality is rooted in the club's origins. An alumnus named Joseph Giacobbe came up with the idea post-COVID, when Chess was a popular pastime online. Giacobbe and a handful of other students wanted to get away from the screens and play a real game face-to-face. The club was handed down to Ron Devito, '25, after Giacobbe's graduation, and it was then handed down to Mark Weiser this year.

"The chess club is a great place to relieve stress after a long day of school," said Joshua Dawoud, '28. "It is a great way to relax my brain in an academic fashion."

Though it is the pawns, knights, kings, and queens that dominate the chessboard, it is the Lions that dominate the Chess Club. Every move is more than a step towards victory: they are the building blocks of a special brotherhood.

Though Checkmate is the goal of Chess, there are many moves one can take to reach that goal. Likewise, there are many different steps one can take in life to achieve their own personal success, their own personal Checkmate.

The Lion is Monsignor Farrell's student digital newspaper. To read more articles from The Lion, click here.

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