HIT Netflix shows, TikTok influencers and anal beads.
It’s not all connected to some shallow celebrity, but the ancient, intellectual game of chess.
In recent years, it has enjoyed a surge in mainstream popularity thanks to hit TV shows like The Queen’s Gambit and young charismatic players streaming matches and content online, including a healthy quota of women.
And then there was the anal beads controversy—in 2022 Magnus Carlsen was unexpectedly beaten by Hans Niemann in the Sinquefield Cup, prompting a theory that Niemann cheated and used vibrating anal beads to receive signals about what moves to play.
The theory went viral, was featured in the Netflix doco Untold: Chess Mates, and has haunted Niemann ever since.
The global chess explosion has filtered down to humble Freo, where the Fremantle Chess Community is regularly attracting up to 30 people to its weekly meets at Percy Flint in South Freo.
It’s a far cry from the image of a fusty old chess club filled with old men droning on about Boris Spassky.
Formed seven years ago, the FCC was originally a club, but the organisers changed the name to make it less intimidating and more of a social event where players of all abilities can come down for a game.
“It’s really cool because we have very strong players in the community and they’ll teach new people that come along as well,” says Christian Mauri, co-founder of Fremantle Chess Community.
“It’s really open-minded and multi-level.”
Over the years, the Chess Community nights have been held at several Freo venues including Jungle Bird, Tolley’s Lane, the Buffalo Club, and The Local Hotel.
Dr Mauri says it’s a win-win for both parties with the Community filling the pub on the quieter weekday nights.
“At one point I was getting approached by lots of venues,” he says.
The Communtiy even enjoy visits from chess royalty with Australian grandmaster Temur Kuybokarov visiting last week.
• Fremantle Communtiy Chess has held meets in various pubs and venues throughout the port city.
“He came along and did some exhibition games,” Dr Mauri says.
“Everybody lined up and he went along and played against, I think it was probably 10 people at one time.
“When he arrived, everybody stood up and applauded him—it was like an Olympian had arrived.”
Dr Mauri says the most important factor in chess’s renaissance has been the rise and dominance of 35-year-old chess supremo Magnus Carlsen.
“He’s the most famous player in the world,” Dr Mauri says.
“The algorithm online and TikTok just really, really loves him. And he’s really charismatic.
“So I think that’s why we’re seeing so many young people.”
Dr Mauri says it’s about a 70-30 ratio of men to women at the chess nights. At one point it was mostly men in their 30s and 40s coming down after work, but recently he’s seeing more folk in their 20s.
The Chess Community are in talks to hold another weekly event in East Freo on a Sunday afternoon.
So why has the game of chess endured for centuries and remained one of the most popular board games?
“In a world where things are a little bit unclear and confusing at times, I think chess is extremely stable,” Dr Mauri says.
“I think it offers people a great deal of intellectual stability and sportsmanship that draws people in.”
The Fremantle Chess Community is keen for someone to come on-board and help with the setting up of boards and the organisational side of things.
To get in touch or find out more see facebook.com/groups/358396361945422/. The Club meet at Percy Flint, 211 South Terrace on Wednesday from 6pm-9pm.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK