Checkmate! Local chess player keeps game going

Ken Farrar knows a thing or two about chess. A long-time chess player, Farrar regularly competes in chess tournaments. He is also a chess tournament director for Wilmington Chess Club, one of the area’s popular chess organizations.

“For me, chess is just a lot of fun,” Farrar said. “I like being able to create movements on the chessboard, and when I compete I have to think. And I like to win at chess. But I have fun directing the tournaments as well.”

Key takeaways

• The bigger picture: Chess offers Wilmington residents a fun, social way to stay mentally engaged, meet other players and keep learning for all skill levels. There are several chess opportunities in the area — see the link below at the bottom of the story.
• The details: Ken Farrar plays competitively and serves as a tournament director for the Wilmington Chess Club. Local organizations offer informal chess gatherings as well as USCF-rated tournaments for players who want to compete at a higher level.
• The more you know: You don't have to be an expert to get involved. Farrar says simply playing regularly and asking questions is one of the best ways to improve. Many local tournaments cost just $15-$20 to enter, with cash prizes typically awarded to winners.

Though Farrar started playing chess in his twenties, he took a long break from the game. Then, he was drawn back to chess through the Wilmington Chess Club, and in 2004, he started competing. That reignited Farrar’s passion for the game, a passion he now shares with others through chess tournaments. 

Farrar said there is a lot of opportunity for chess enthusiasts of all ages and ability levels in the area.  Several chess organizations, such as the Wilmington Chess Club, ILM Chess, Wilmington Chess and Go Club, Chess Club of Wilmington, LA Times Bar Chess Social, and UNC Wilmington Chess Club, hold regular, informal meetings where beginning chess players can learn the game and more experienced players can hone their skills.

These get-togethers are invaluable, as playing against an opponent is one of the best ways for chess players to improve their game, he said.

“You get better by playing again and again,” Farrar said. “You can study books and even go to classes, but if you go to chess clubs you can learn for free by asking questions like, ‘Why does this work and this not work?’’’ 

Wilmington also offers opportunities for chess players who wish to compete at a higher level, Farrar said. Both ILM Chess and Wilmington Chess Club host a variety of U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) competitions, which means the tournaments follow standardized rules and players are rated and tracked according to their skill level. 

A sample of the USCF competitions offered by ILM Chess and Wilmington Chess Club include the Swiss Tournament, in which players play one game per round; USCF Quads, a four-player, 3-round-robin tournament in which players are grouped by skill level; the Blitz Tournament, a fast-paced competition where players must make a move within a short time; and Quick and Regular Swiss, where competitors play a fixed number of rounds. 

Tournament entrants are charged a small fee, usually around $15 or $20, and the winners usually receive a cash prize, which is based on the number of competitors. 

Farrar is currently putting together a Wilmington Chess Club Dual Tournament, which will include both Quick and Regular competitions. The tournament will be held Sept. 12 at the Bridge Center in Wilmington. Farrar said he hopes the tournament will draw at least 17 chess players, though some local competitions have drawn as many as 30 players in the past.

As many do, Farrar plays chess because he enjoys it. But, he admits that important life lessons can be learned from the game as well, such as the will to keep going after a loss.

“Everybody loses in this game,” Farrar said. “You learn from your losses and you improve your game. You say, ‘I’m gonna try again and play another game.’”

Find more information here.