A once defunct Wilsonville High Chess Club is now back in a big way. In only the three weeks since its revival, the club has gained attention from students in every grade and skill level, with over 30 members. 

At 11:30 in the upper cluster, students gather for a round of chess trivia, matches, and prizes. The club was brought back by Wilsonville juniors Fallon Leishman and Malia Case, who both share a love of chess and hoped it would be a popular activity among students. “I was amazed at the level of interest and the skill level of the players,” said club member Jasmin Hernandez. 

The club has already secured additional boards from advisor John Fitzgerald and multiple Wilsonville parents. This support allows for many possibilities for the future of chess club, including tournaments and opportunities for top-tier players and those who are new to the game. 

Club organizers are working with the Wilsonville Booster Club in hopes to obtain chess clocks in order to speed up games and simulate the tournament conditions that higher level players experience.

 The meeting starts off with a round of trivia where students test their knowledge of the game and its rich history. Interested students can join anytime by coming to the upper cluster during lunch on Mondays. All levels are welcome and more information can be found on the instagram page @wvhschessclub, where recaps of meetings are posted as well as reminders and updates for the following weeks. The hope for this club is to allow for a fun and supportive environment where students can improve their chess knowledge.