Some of my favorite chess memories aren’t just about the games I’ve played – they’re about the people I’ve met because of chess.
That’s what made the Portland Premier League tournament so special to me. I had the chance to play 22 players at once in a simultaneous exhibition, and as I walked from board to board, I kept thinking about how amazing it was to see so many people excited to play. I felt proud, grateful, and honestly a little humbled that so many players wanted to be part of it.
It was also really cool to see chess included alongside cricket, pickleball, volleyball, and so many other sports. Moments like that remind me that chess can be much more than a competition – it can be a way to bring an entire community together.
I’ve now been helping organize chess tournaments for more than four years, but some of the experiences I enjoy most happen when we take chess outside our regular tournament community.
At PPL, we had players competing in their very first chess tournament. We also had people returning to tournament chess after being away from it for years. Both were equally exciting to see.
For someone playing their first tournament, this could be the beginning of a hobby they enjoy for the rest of their life. For someone returning, it can be a reminder that chess is always there to come back to.
That is one of the things I find most rewarding about introducing chess to new communities. We are not just organizing a tournament for one afternoon. Sometimes we are helping someone discover a new skill, a new hobby, new friends, or something they may continue enjoying for decades.
Congratulations to all of the winners across the four sections, and especially to everyone who showed up, competed, and challenged themselves.
I hope for many of you this tournament was just the beginning, or maybe the beginning again, of many more chess experiences to come.
