Chess lovers practice the art of the checkmate

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Once a month, chess lovers gather at Code Ninjas in Rapid City – a coding center for kids – to practice the art of the checkmate.

The Chess Club meets every first Saturday to share their hobby. It promotes increased knowledge and understanding of the game as an art form and an intellectual sport.

Eli Wright, who was taught how to play by his dad, says his favorite part of chess is never quite being able to predict the outcome.

“The strategy…anyone can outplay anyone just depends on how you play it. That’s my favorite part about it,” said Wright.

Wright, who watched Queen’s Gambit, a dramatic mini-series that follows the life of an orphan chess prodigy, says there aren’t enough scenes showing the chess pieces.  As far as someday playing professionally, he says that’s not part of the game plan saying, “you have to be very, very good.”