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.
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