Hawaiʻi’s Chess Team Is Making All the Right Moves

The centuries-old game of chess is alive and thriving in the Islands. Hawai‘i players from 6 to 80 are holding their own against masterminds from afar. Earlier this year, Team Hawai‘i won back-to-back national titles in the U.S. Team Chess League’s online competition. Nine local players also made their mark at this summer’s U.S. Open tournaments in Michigan, with two of them placing first in their divisions.

Image: Envato

So what’s behind our state’s chess success? Scott Middleman, president of the Hawai‘i Chess Federation, credits the nonprofit’s ongoing opportunities, as well as Guy Ontai, a chess coach and enthusiast who has run monthly scholastic tournaments for the past 30 years, with helping to build a strong chess community here. “Our current adult players started playing in organized tournaments as kids,” Middleman says. “Now, we have a deep pool of players who are all pretty good.”

While the traditional game has long been popular, online chess has helped Hawai‘i players take their skills to the next level. Travel to other states and international tournaments can be costly and time-consuming, but virtual play provides instant access to high-level competition and plenty of opportunities to sharpen strategy. “Online chess democratizes the game. It’s accessible to all, and the tools to learn are widely available,” Middleman says.

There’s no shortage of ways to get in the game on O‘ahu, virtually or in-person. The Hawai‘i Chess Federation offers online team play, tournaments for K–12 players, neighborhood meetups at community spaces and adults-only gatherings at local bars.

hawaiichess.com, @hawaiichessfederation

Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine. @ldornbush