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Among the most energetic spots on a Tuesday night in east London's Brick Lane couldn't be a dining spot or a streetwear brand pop-up, it's a chess gathering – or rather a chess club-nightclub fusion, precisely speaking.

Knight Club represents the unlikely blend between chess and London's dynamic evening entertainment scene. It was founded by Yusuf Ntahilaja, 27, who began his first chess club in the summer of 2023 at a smaller bar in Aldgate, not too far from the present location at Café 1001 on Brick Lane.

“My goal was to make chess clubs for people who share my background and people my generation,” he explained. “Typically, chess is only put in spaces that are dominated by older people, which isn't inclusive sufficiently.”

On the first night, there were only 8 boards shared by sixteen people. Today, a “successful evening” at the weekly Knight Club will attract approximately 280 attendees.

At first glance, the venue feels closer to a music night than a chess club. Mixed drinks are flowing and tunes is playing, but the chessboards on each table aren't just decorative or there as a gimmick: they are all occupied and encircled by a queue of onlookers waiting for their turn.

One regular, in her mid-twenties, has frequented the club often for the past four months. “I possessed no knowledge of chess before I came here, and the first time I tried it, I played a game with a expert player. That was a quick win, but it left me fascinated to learn and continue enjoying chess,” she said.

“The event is about half social and half participants genuinely wishing to engage in chess … It's a nice way to unwind, which doesn't involve going to a club to meet other people my age.”

A Game Revitalized: Chess in the Modern Age

Lately, chess has been cemented in the societal spirit of the times. Its appeal of online chess proliferated throughout the pandemic, making it one of the fastest-growing internet games globally. Across media, the streaming series a hit show, along with the author's recent novel a literary work, have created a distinct imagery associated with the game, which has drawn in a new generation of enthusiasts.

But much of this newfound appeal of the chess night is not necessarily about the technicalities of the game; instead, it is the ease of social interaction that it facilitates, by pulling up a seat and engaging with a person who may be a complete unknown individual.

“It's a great clever disguise,” remarked one organizer, co-founder of a local venue in London, a bookshop, reading room, cafe and lounge, which has organized a well-attended chess club every Wednesday since it began several years back. Freud’s objective is to “remove chess off a pedestal and make it feel like pool in a dive bar”.

“It is a very simple tool to get to know people. It somewhat takes the weight of the necessity of small talk from socializing with people. You can do the uncomfortable bit of making an introduction and talking to a new acquaintance over a game rather than with no shared activity involved.”

Growing the Network: Chess Nights Outside the Capital

In Birmingham, a similar initiative is a recurring chess event held at York’s Cafe, just outside the city centre. “We found that individuals are looking for spaces where one can go out, socialise and enjoy a fun evening beyond going to a bar or nightclub,” stated its creator and coordinator, Karan Singh, in his early twenties.

Together with his associate Abdirahim Haji, 21, he bought game sets, printed promotional materials and started the chess club in January, while in his final year of university. Within months, Singh said their event has expanded to draw over 100 youthful players to its gatherings.

“A chess club has a specific connotation to it, about it being quiet. We really try to go the contrary way; it is a social get-together with chess involved,” he said.

Discovering and Engaging: A New Generation of Players

Among numerous attendees, chess clubs are an introduction to the game. One participant, in her late twenties, is picking up how to participate in chess with other attenders of chess night at the venue. She became curious in the pastime was piqued after an enjoyable evening dancing and playing chess at a previous the club's events.

“It's a strange idea, but it works,” she said. “It promotes face-to-face exchanges instead of screen-based activities. It is a no-cost third space to meet new people. It's welcoming, one doesn't have to necessarily be good at chess.”

She humorously compared the popularity of chess among young people to the superficial image of the “performative male”, an effort to simulate intellectualism while signaling the veneer of “coolness”. If the chess trend has fostered a genuine passion in the game isn't something she is entirely sure about. “It is a positive phenomenon, but it’s largely a trend,” she said. “When you compete with people who are really serious about it, it quickly turns less fun.”

Competitive Play and Community

It may seem like a bit of lighthearted activity for individuals aiming to use a chessboard as a social vehicle, but competitive players certainly have their place, even if away from the dancefloor.

Another organizer, 22, who assists in running Knight Club,says that increasingly competitive attenders have established a competitive ranking. “Participants who are part of the competition will play each other, we'll go to quarter-finals, advanced stages, and then we will finally have a champion.”

Ryames Chan, in his twenties, is a serious player and chess teacher. He joined the competition for about a year and participates at the club nearly every week. “This offers a nice option to engaging in intense chess; it gives a feeling of community,” he said.

“It's interesting to see how it evolves into more of a communal activity, because in the past the sole people who played chess were people who rarely go outside; they simply remained home. It's usually only two people playing on a chessboard …

“What appeals to me about this place is that one isn't really playing against the digital opponent, you are engaging with real people.”