To some a board game means a lot more than just beating your opponent. It’s also about a sense of community.
And this community loves chess.
“I would say I’m pretty good at it,” said Urial Valentim, an asylum seeker from Angola. “Yeah, I’m pretty good at it.”
Valentim is staying at the Howard Johnson Hotel in South Portland, which has become an emergency shelter.
The group Gift of Chess meets there every Saturday, spreading their love of the game and connecting young Mainers with young asylum seekers.
“A lot of the kids are just kind of hanging out with their friends,” said Jacob Holden, Portland’s director of Gift of Chess. “Which is great, but we want to give them a drive and reason to play the game.”
Holden sees the tournaments as an opportunity for these children seeking asylum to learn and acclimate.
“Chess at the end of the day promotes critical thinking, promotes decision making,” Holden said.
“The best part is when you find someone competitive and the game takes long to end,” Valentim said.
Maria Marta, who is also from Angola, has found a new appreciation for the game.
“When I was a kid, I didn’t like chess,” Marta said. “I felt like it was so boring.”
This group has helped redefine the game of chess for Marta. She loves the challenge and the friends she’s made along the way. That’s something many of these kids share.
“It has made it more fun, and it has made me a better player in chess,” Valentim said.
These volunteers said it’s not just about winning or losing, but how you learn and grow from the game.
