New Cicero/Berwyn Chess Club Aims to Build Community: ‘Chess Emulates Life’
Every Tuesday the club meets at Flight 22 Bar in Berwyn, Ill. In the past the bar owner, Jeanette Figueroa, wanted to have game nights but never started it or saw it through. She thought including Antonio's chess club was a great fit. Present on November 15th, 2022 are Verenice Escareno, Antonio Escareno, Alicia Zeimet, Bryan Escareno, Carolina Aldama, Daniel and Jim. April Alonso/ Cicero Independiente.
By Ankur Singh
“I could do this, but then you’ll get me,” Carolina Aldama said.
“And your king will still be vulnerable. So think about that,” Antonio Escareno replied.
Escareno and Aldama gazed over a chess board at Flight 22, a wine bar on Cermak Road on a Tuesday evening as Aldama pondered what her next game move would be. As a beginner Aldama is still learning the game.
Escareno is the founder of the Cicero/Berwyn Chess Club, which launched in October in order to encourage locals to come together and enjoy a game of chess while meeting fellow community members.
People have been gathering every Tuesday evening at 6pm at Flight 22 since its launch. Players range from those who have been playing chess for years to those who are just learning.
Sharing his love of the game is partly what inspired Antonio Escareno to create the Cicero/Berwyn chess club open to all levels. Taken on Tuesday, November 15th, 2022 in Berwyn, Ill., April Alonso/Cicero Independiente.
Escareno, who works as a realtor, first started playing chess as a young child with his father. According to Escareno, his father was always working and playing chess was one of the activities they would do together when he had free time. His father learned chess at work and began teaching Escareno a few moves.
“Chess emulates life,” he said. “It forces somebody who is not used to concentrating to concentrate in order for them to be successful in the game. Each piece has to be moved with purpose…and one day I was like oh man it’s just like life.”
He is now passing down chess to his own son.
“One day he comes home from school and he says ‘Dad, I have to tell you something’. I thought he got in a fight or something. And he says ‘I’m captain of the chess club’ and he’s really proud of it,” Escareno said.
Sharing his love of the game is partly what inspired Escareno to create chess club. He wants to spread chess in Cicero and Berwyn not just among experienced adult players but among young people and beginners too.
Aldama is one of those new players who joined chess club to learn the game. She’s always wanted to learn but never had the time. Escareno taught Aldama the basics of the game the first day she came to chess club and now she is a regular participant.
“It’s so nerdy, but I love it,” Carolina Aldama said. Joining the chess club has been an opportunity for her to meet new people. April Alonso / Cicero Independiente.
“It’s so nerdy, but I love it,” Aldama said.
Aldama moved to Cicero recently and is new to town. Joining the chess club has been an opportunity for her to meet new people and discover new places.
“I feel like it’s community based and it opens up to many people especially after Covid to have face to face interaction and meet familiar faces around the neighborhood, especially for someone like me who is new,” she said.
Bryan Escareno, brother of Antonio Escareno, plays a chess game with his wife, Alicia Zeimet at Flight 22 bar in Berwyn,Ill., on November 15th, 2022. April Alonso / Cicero Independiente.
“I’m in the community business,” Escareno said. “I tell people I don’t sell houses, I build relationships and I take pride in the area that I live in.”
Escareno says he has plans to grow the club into a nonprofit organization that organizes clubs and events at local schools and more.
The Cicero/Berwyn Chess Club continues to meet each Tuesday at 6pm at Flight 22. To learn more visit their Facebook group.
Ankur Singh is a co-founder of Cicero Independiente and a freelance reporter.
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