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| ChessCafe: The Birmingham venue bringing young people together | ChessCafe: The Birmingham venue bringing young people together |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Najma has social anxiety and said the group had helped her to meet new people | Najma has social anxiety and said the group had helped her to meet new people |
| On a side street, in a cafe above an office, more than 70 young people are playing chess, to a thumping DJ soundtrack. | On a side street, in a cafe above an office, more than 70 young people are playing chess, to a thumping DJ soundtrack. |
| Some have arrived alone, others with friends or partners. Most, but not all, are in their early 20s. | Some have arrived alone, others with friends or partners. Most, but not all, are in their early 20s. |
| This is ChessCafé in Birmingham's city centre. | This is ChessCafé in Birmingham's city centre. |
| "This is not just a chess club," its social media pages said. | "This is not just a chess club," its social media pages said. |
| "Just show up, hang out, and enjoy the vibes." | "Just show up, hang out, and enjoy the vibes." |
| More than 70 people, mostly in their 20s, are playing every two weeks | More than 70 people, mostly in their 20s, are playing every two weeks |
| The vibes of the venue, EthyOn Cafe, is reminiscent of a 1980s New York-style loft apartment with exposed brick, unsanded floorboards, dim lighting and vinyl records kept on shelves. | The vibes of the venue, EthyOn Cafe, is reminiscent of a 1980s New York-style loft apartment with exposed brick, unsanded floorboards, dim lighting and vinyl records kept on shelves. |
| People start filing in during the late afternoon, hugging each other and smiling. By 19:00, it's standing room only and the place is buzzing. | |
| Karan Singh co-founded the fortnightly event to recreate a chess club he found while doing an internship in London. | Karan Singh co-founded the fortnightly event to recreate a chess club he found while doing an internship in London. |
| "Social spaces for young people are often limited to a bar or a club. We wanted to break that," he said. | "Social spaces for young people are often limited to a bar or a club. We wanted to break that," he said. |
| Sans is a first-timer at the venue. | Sans is a first-timer at the venue. |
| "There are so many social activities in places which involve alcohol," she said. | "There are so many social activities in places which involve alcohol," she said. |
| "This is something different. Everything is so online now, so meeting people physically is rare." | "This is something different. Everything is so online now, so meeting people physically is rare." |
| It's a paradox. More young people are discovering chess because influencers are streaming games on online platforms like Youtube and Twitch. | It's a paradox. More young people are discovering chess because influencers are streaming games on online platforms like Youtube and Twitch. |
| It's become one of the fastest growing game in the world, with an estimated six million players in the UK alone. | It's become one of the fastest growing game in the world, with an estimated six million players in the UK alone. |
| But the players here, many who learned how to play online, are craving the real thing, both the game, and the connection that comes with it. | But the players here, many who learned how to play online, are craving the real thing, both the game, and the connection that comes with it. |
| Sans said more young people are looking different types of social activities | Sans said more young people are looking different types of social activities |
| "We really want to disconnect from our phones. It can get overstimulating," Najma, aged 20, said. | |
| "It's a place where you can get together with people, especially someone like me who has social anxiety and has trouble meeting people." | "It's a place where you can get together with people, especially someone like me who has social anxiety and has trouble meeting people." |
| Five years on from the start of the pandemic, many young people still find it hard to socialise. Groups like this offer a stress-free environment in which to meet people. | Five years on from the start of the pandemic, many young people still find it hard to socialise. Groups like this offer a stress-free environment in which to meet people. |
| "You can walk in by yourself, play a game with someone, and over the next 10 to 20 minutes, you've made a friend. The board and the pieces are there to facilitate social interaction," co-founder Karan Singh said. | "You can walk in by yourself, play a game with someone, and over the next 10 to 20 minutes, you've made a friend. The board and the pieces are there to facilitate social interaction," co-founder Karan Singh said. |
| Co-founders Abdi-Rahim Haji and Karan Singh say young people are searching for social connection after the pandemic | Co-founders Abdi-Rahim Haji and Karan Singh say young people are searching for social connection after the pandemic |
| Inside the room is a mix of personalities. Some just turn up, play, and leave. Others see it as a social gathering with a game thrown in. Some take it seriously. Others are laughing throughout. | Inside the room is a mix of personalities. Some just turn up, play, and leave. Others see it as a social gathering with a game thrown in. Some take it seriously. Others are laughing throughout. |
| Milan, 20, plays for his university chess society and has arrived alone. "You don't need to know people. There's no pressure to talk, you can just play if you want." | Milan, 20, plays for his university chess society and has arrived alone. "You don't need to know people. There's no pressure to talk, you can just play if you want." |
| Liban is the opposite: "You can talk to anybody. I can walk up to any table right now, have a chat with them. Everyone is so welcoming here". | Liban is the opposite: "You can talk to anybody. I can walk up to any table right now, have a chat with them. Everyone is so welcoming here". |
| Tyrese and Nadira are a couple and, like many here, enjoy the mindfulness of chess, a haven to take them away from the stress of real life for a couple of hours. | Tyrese and Nadira are a couple and, like many here, enjoy the mindfulness of chess, a haven to take them away from the stress of real life for a couple of hours. |
| "I enjoy the thinking, the originality. Chess is very abstract, it's like life in many ways, and I think it brings people together no matter who you are," Tyrese said. | "I enjoy the thinking, the originality. Chess is very abstract, it's like life in many ways, and I think it brings people together no matter who you are," Tyrese said. |
| Nadira agrees: "There's a theory to chess but not a correct way to play. You can have your own effect on the game, you can be yourself. There's a silent competitiveness about it. Even if you're losing you can learn something." | Nadira agrees: "There's a theory to chess but not a correct way to play. You can have your own effect on the game, you can be yourself. There's a silent competitiveness about it. Even if you're losing you can learn something." |
| I asked everyone I spoke to, how they would describe ChessCafé to a newcomer. | I asked everyone I spoke to, how they would describe ChessCafé to a newcomer. |
| Co-founder Abdi-Rahim Haji summed up the most common reply: "We've created a space for people to start talking again. By the end of the night, you'll definitely have made new friends, and hopefully you'll leave with a smile as well." | Co-founder Abdi-Rahim Haji summed up the most common reply: "We've created a space for people to start talking again. By the end of the night, you'll definitely have made new friends, and hopefully you'll leave with a smile as well." |
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