The boards were set, the clocks were on, and the players were arriving at the Oak View Community Center in Oak Lawn on a Friday night.
Chess Club Coordinator Wayne Ellice and Tournament Director Alex Connelly smiled as they checked players in for the May Games tournament on May 9 and collected the $3 member or $8 non-member entry fees for the cash prize funds. This was just one of the many tournaments the South Suburban Chess Club of Greater Chicago has been hosting since the club’s inception in 1994 at a community center in Palos Heights.
After moving to and from a church in Alsip, the club settled into its current Oak Lawn location in 1999 and has been giving Chicago-area locals the chance to socialize, learn, and compete in chess both on teams and in tournaments uninterrupted since then.
“We may have a crowd tonight,” said Ellice, explaining that the OPPC Chess Club, a children’s chess program based in Orland Park, had emailed him about attending. He was correct, as 27 people, including U.S. Chess Federation National Masters, longtime club members, coaches from Brother Rice, St. Rita, and St. Ignatius, Argo and Richards high school students, and youth players all arrived with joy for the game in their eyes.
The 10 minutes with 3 seconds delay quick game time control gave every player an opportunity to show off their tactical and positional skills throughout the five rated or unrated games, with plenty of fireworks ensuing in the final seconds on many boards.
Players young and old faced each other on the mental battlefield, and style differences were evident in the play. Many of the up-and-coming chess players were quicker to sacrifice pawns for dynamic attacking potential compared to the more experienced players who often relied on more principled and solid play to leave less to chance. Of course, with only 10 minutes on each player’s clock, inaccuracies and blunders abounded as players ran out of time, leading to flurries of checks, captures, and attacks. Slow, positional play turned into furious hand movements as players grabbed pieces and hit their clocks as fast as possible, the threat of flagging–losing on time–always looming in the back of their minds.
After five rounds, longtime SSCC member Brian Peterson finished undefeated, earning himself first place and $50 as players congratulated him on a clean performance. NM Tim Kras and Argo Chess Team member Brandon Hofling shared second place and each took home $25. Third-place finishers received $3 each, earning back their entry fees with smiles on their faces.
“I have to play you again!” said second-place finisher Hofling excitedly to a SSCC member after the tournament concluded. The Argonaut experienced his only loss to that club member in the first round but found his opponent’s unique 1.f4 Bird Opening particularly interesting.
“By offering casual play to serious rated tournaments, our club meets all chess player needs, and nobody should feel intimidated,” said Ellice when asked about the value and success of the Oak Lawn-based club. “We’re successful because we’re consistent and welcoming. The game itself is very rich, meaning every game is different, and one learns more about the game all the time. Playing a person is also more interesting than a computer, and the club gives people a chance to meet others with shared interest.”
With over three decades of club and competitive experience, Ellice has played pro players such as former World Champion Viktor Korchnoi and the internet-famous International Master Eric Rosen, he’s invited Grandmaster Dmitry Gurevich to give a simultaneous exhibition at the club in 2023, and he’s been a comedic and guiding force of the club since he took up his current leadership role in 2009, according to members.
He encourages anyone ages 14 and older to check out the South Suburban Chess Club at one of their weekly Friday 6-9 p.m. meetings, and those who choose to come back can join the club for only $15 a year.
