Added on 8/31/2024

The chess boom is still going strong. This shows in many different ways, online and in real life, with more and more people enrolling in chess lessons and new chess clubs being started worldwide. Among these, a different variety is becoming increasingly popular: chess cafes and bars.

Just a few days ago, the Red Knight Chess Cafe opened its doors in Bangkok, and it will surely become a must-stop for any chess enthusiast visiting such an attractive tourist destination as Thailand. The cafe is a spin-off, an expansion of the activities of the Red Knight Chess Club, founded in 2019 in Bangkok by Riste Menkinoski and Loreshyl Cuizon, two chess players whose long-time dream was to start a club and build a happy chess community around it.

Chess Club Inside

Their dream turned into a reality, and as usually is the case when true passion is involved, it happened faster than they anticipated. Since 2019, and despite the pandemic, the Red Knight has become the fastest-growing chess club in the country, with more than 100 junior players currently receiving training and representing the club in various competitions. “This year, two juniors aged 13 and 15, Sasinat Tawankanjana and Nathasha Mekarapiruk, qualified for the Thailand National Women's team for the World Olympiad in Budapest”, remarks Riste with pride.

As much as the chess club provides opportunities for chess training and small tournaments, the chess scene in Bangkok needed something more. A place where chess players of all ages will gather to play chess in a thematic chess environment”, adds Loreshyl. And that’s how the idea of opening a Chess Cafe was born. Together with partners and chess enthusiasts, the Red Knight Chess came to life this summer on August 1st, with a grand opening that was a true celebration of chess.

news asset 3

Designed for playing chess over a cup of coffee, the Chess Cafe offers a real chess experience for visitors. One can find like-minded people to play chess with, pick a book from the Cafe's chess library and enjoy some reading time, or have some food. There are casual chess evening events, small blitz tournaments, and occasionally bigger competitions in the area in front of the cafe. The attention to detail is remarkable: for instance, when they decided to decorate the place with some pictures, they reached out to David Llada with a very detailed request. They wanted a very specific selection of photos that could showcase the richness of chess, from Magnus Carlsen to young kids, women, and group photos with people having fun playing the game together.

In just one month, the Red Knight Chess Cafe has already become a popular spot among the locals and the large expat community. But it is also a must-visit place for chess fans passing by, even for just one night in Bangkok.

Location: Sukhumvit Soi 26, on the ground floor of Bambini Villa, Bangkok. Website: https://redknightchess.com

news asset 2 News assets