On Tuesday, Oct. 14, any student or resident of Portsmouth and its surrounding area can test their chess skills in an open play tournament at The Landing, a coffee shop and lounge located near campus at 603 2nd St. in Portsmouth, just across the street from Patties and Pints. The tournament organizers invite players of all ratings and skill levels and encourage people to meet one another to create a stronger sense of community.
This chess tournament is being spearheaded by The Landing barista Darian Lisath. All matches played will take place from 6-8 p.m. at The Landing. To help ensure speed in the tournament in the short two-hour window, Lisath stated that the matches will be in “rapid format, with 10-minute moves for each player.”
While there is no monetary prize for the winner of the tournament, Lisath did mention there is a reward. The winner of the tournament will receive “the title of current store champion and a coffee of your choice paid for by Darian.”
If any chess player, amateur or self-proclaimed professional, happens to miss this event, there will be other chances to test their skills against other chess players in the community. The Landing plans on hosting similar tournaments of this format, or other chess formats upon request, monthly and will announce the dates beforehand on their social media page(s).
