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Wijk van Zee Report
Wijk Van Zee, a small town a half hour away from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, lays virtually unknown to many people. This village would just have been a quiet empty seaside town over the Winter months, but during the month of January it became buzzing with an unlikely activity, chess.
Every year since 1938, the Corus Chess Tournament is held here, and this year the UL Chess Club decided to travel there to be apart of it. Despite being called after it's sponsor, the tournament feels more like a festival, where anybody is welcome to come down and learn the ropes of the game. The interest to compete here is high, even in the amateur events, and they are capped at 600 people with a lottery system deciding on those who get to play.
In these amateur events it isn't limited to people from The Netherlands, people have traveled from all over the world to be part of this festival, some as far away as China. Those that weren't selected to play in these events still made their way to the tournament. Here they met up with others in pubs near the venue, playing friendly games of chess against one another, while others listen to a live commentary on moves the top players are playing. These commentary sessions are easily accessible to anyone with the concepts and strategies of the top players being explained to complete novices.
Chess is an odd one where age or disability doesn't affect anyone's ability to play the game. For example, the current World Number 1 is only 20 years old, while his peers are approaching into their late 40's and 50's. Several blind people play in the main hall engaged in a tactical battle with their opponent. This was a really great learning experience for all members who went, seeing the worlds oldest and one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world.
Anyone who wishes to attend any Chess Club meeting, the club meets every Monday in EG-010 from 6pm and every Thursday from 6-8pm in Student Union Room 3.
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Semester 1 Week 1
We will meet Thursdays at 6pm in Student Union Room 3. Here we will offer beginners, intermediate and advanced training. You don't need to know anything about chess and you don't need to bring anything as we'll provide everything!
As for our first trip, it'll be paintballing match versus the Games Society (GSoc) on Sunday 27th of Sept. This is a provisional date, as Gsoc must talk to their members and us with ours. The club will cover the full cost of this trip, so please email me back before Wednesday the 23rd of September if you wish to attend.
The next trip will be a challenge match against Trinity College Dublin in Dublin on the 3rd of October. The club will cover the cost of this trip also. Please email me back by Wednesday the 30th of September if you wish to attend.
Each Wednesday, members from the chess club and skynet society have a little get together at 9pm in Java's! This is purely a social event and members not in the chess club or skynet are more than welcome to attend!
If you have any questions or queries about the chess club, don't hesitate to ask!
Email us on UlChessClub