The Central Catholic Chess Club reopened its doors this year as turmoil enveloped chess at the highest level when World Champion Magnus Carlsen accused young player Hans Moke Niemann of cheating.

If you drop into a Chess Club meeting in Room 111 after school on Mondays and Wednesdays, you’ll be sure to hear a discussion of the scandal that has rocked the chess world for the past month after Carlsen withdrew from a tournament in early September.

Niemann, a player thought to be far worse than Carlsen, defeated him with the black pieces, prompting Carlsen to believe that he was cheating.

If you are unfamiliar with chess, it may seem strange to you that it’s possible to cheat at all. In the 21st century, though, it is becoming easier and easier for an unscrupulous player to cheat if they so desire.

Extremely powerful computers called “chess engines,” built to find the best move in any given game, are improving every day and becoming easier to use.

For a player who wants to cheat, it would simply be a matter of concealing some electric device on their person that alerts them of the best move to make at a critical juncture in the game.

It would be very suspicious for someone to make the best possible move every time; if Niemann did cheat, he likely used the engine only a few times during the game, relying on his considerable chess skills to carry him through the rest of the moves.

On October 4th, popular organization chess.com released the findings of their investigation into Niemann’s conduct on their platform, which you can read here.

The report indicates that Niemann cheated far more often on chess.com than was previously known. However, there is still no conclusive evidence that he cheated in his game against Carlsen.

The Central Catholic Chess Club is also abuzz with discussion of the scandal and all sorts of chess-related matters. Students at the chess club learn the principles of the game and can engage in discussions and games with other chess players of all skill levels.

The club has a dedicated administration in President Nolan Cynkar and Vice President Donovan Allen, who shared their hopes for this year’s Chess Club return: “I’m really excited that the chess club is back in action,” says Allen, “it’s really fun seeing the underclassmen get involved in chess so that they can take it over when we’re gone.”

Cynkar is also excited to share the value that chess provides. He says, “I’m very excited for the chess club because it brings people together in a good way; it’s fun, it gives people a way to relax while challenging their minds […] it’s pretty powerful.”

The Chess Club will be open year-round in Room 111, after school on Mondays and Wednesdays.