The Otago Chess Club has a solid cohort of younger players to carry it into the future as it celebrates its sesquicentennial this year, club president Alf Loretan says.
Mr Loretan said the members enjoyed playing over-the-board chess because it was more social than playing online.
"You actually know the people you’re dealing with and you can look them in the eye in person."
The club meets every Wednesday and hosts a variety of tournaments.
Chess had a resurgence during the Covid-19 pandemic and more young people were joining the club.
Mr Loretan said it was good to see young people joining because chess was a great skill to learn for life.
The mindset he had built had helped him make deals as a businessman when he owned Wests Cordials.
"Sometimes you’ve got to be careful because you don’t want to make a blunder and sometimes you have to take a risk."
Now that he was retired, the game helped him keep mentally active.
"It’s a sport of the brain," he said.
The club fostered young people to get involved in the game through its youth academy.
The young players were "extremely strong" and capable of beating the older players.
"It’s quite something to be beaten by an 8 or 9-year-old.
"It’s humbling."
He was excited to be hosting the South Island Championships this year to mark the club’s 150-year anniversary in September.
The tournament had attracted more than 40 entries from across the country.
The club is hosting the Junior South Island Championships at its Maitland St clubrooms this Saturday.
