A senior has a vision for the expansion and accessibility of a game he loves and has seen bring so many together.
Senior and co-president of the Chess Club Jamie Evarts is taking on a new fundraising initiative to build a library stand in Harvard Square with free and accessible chess books for all. Evarts, alongside other members of the club, wants to provide access to these chess resources for the homeless population in Brookline.
Junior and co-president David Katsman said having greater access to chess books and resources is a way to expand the game and bring enjoyment to people.
“It’s a really good cause because it’s a great way to promote a great activity, especially for homeless people that really don’t have access to resources, such as chess books,” Katsman said. “Chess is a big thing. In to raise, you see so many people playing on the street with boards set up there.”
Evarts began integrating himself into the Harvard Square chess community around the time the pandemic hit. Evarts said the community of homeless chess players is tight-knit, friendly and generous.
“I found there to be a really positive community of homeless people and a diverse community as well,” Evarts said. “There was this one time when an international master gave me a free lesson out of nowhere when my play was off.”
Evarts said the club is looking to raise a total of $214 for the construction of the library stand. Senior and vice president of the club Jack Maloney said that the club has hosted two fundraising tournaments this year to raise money for the mission.
“We had one [tournament] the second week of school and we had another one last week. It was a $5 buy-in and anyone in the school was welcome,” Maloney said. “The first week we raised $60 and last week we raised $35.”
One thing that Evarts admires about the game of chess is the fact that it is not affected by the typical barriers of age and socioeconomic status.
“You might be in a chess tournament playing against a kid who’s 8 years old and who’s 2000 rated and will crush you. It’s really unique in that sense. When I think about other activities I do, like when I’m wrestling, I’m never going to find myself facing off against someone who’s 10 years younger than me,” Evarts said. “Providing a chess library in Harvard Square would accomplish and expand upon what the game of chess already does.”
Katsman said people can misconstrue chess as a sport only for people who are part of the upper or wealthy classes, which closes off access to the activity.
“There’s this misconception that [chess is] for really wealthy people, but that’s just not the case at all, especially in recent times,” Katsman said. “Access to materials is so much easier [than before] and we’re trying to make it even easier.”
Evarts said something is humbling about the idea of two people from completely different backgrounds dropping their differences and shaking hands before and after a game of chess.
“As president of the Chess Club, every time somebody sits down, shakes hands and is brought out of their shell by the game is a really awesome thing,” Evarts said. “Drawing more people into Harvard Square, especially given the significant amount of people who are in unfortunate circumstances around that area, can be really beneficial.”
