Harshith Sai Kona, applied statistics and data science graduate student, moves a piece during the Chai and Chess event Jan. 29 at Palo Duro Lounge in the University Center. The Maverick Chess Club started in 2003.
Between the rows of students conversing during Thursday’s Global Grounds at Palo Duro Lounge, a small group gathers around a set of chessboards. Pieces click against the board as players lean in, some thinking of their next move. What may have seemed like a quick match turns into a conversation.
A once-dormant club that sat inactive for months found new life in fall 2025 when finance junior Jai Joshi revived it as a place where students of multiple backgrounds and skill levels can come together and share a common passion.
For many UTA students, chess is a way to indulge in their hobbies. It is more than a game; it can provide a way for students to connect and challenge each other’s minds, one move at a time.
Psychology senior Brianna Bronson, left, and theater senior Malik D’Shawn play chess during the Chai and Chess event Jan. 29 at Palo Duro Lounge in the University Center. The chess club held the event, which included hot cups of chai.
Information systems junior Fatimah Riaz said chess provides a sense of community and she values the way chess allows players to slow down, talk and embrace the moment.
That sense of connection is what the chess club is aiming to create for experienced players and beginners, according to MavEngage.
To foster that connection, the club hosts meetings as well as participates in campus events that welcome students to stop by and play, Riaz said.
“We just lay out boards, and people start playing,” Joshi said.
Though the club is still working on securing a permanent meeting space, finance student Friedrich Bruck said, the club is also planning to expand its activities, including hosting tournaments and workshops.
Human resources management junior Nikhil Venugopal plays chess against chemistry freshman Rosemary Fowler-Tiberius during the Chai and Chess event Jan. 29 at Palo Duro Lounge in the University Center. The club welcomes players of all skill levels.
He said chess feels different from other pastimes, like video games, because it offers a sense of accomplishment and mental engagement.
“Chess is a game that feels productive, and it’s fun, and it’s engaging, and you can get better at it,” Bruck said.
Riaz said when finals week comes around, playing chess can be a welcome break from the stress.
Looking ahead, the club hopes to expand its reach, collaborate with other universities and establish intercollegiate competition. For now, the focus is to continue growing and establishing a community at UTA.
“I love the community of chess,” Riaz said. “It has a special place in my heart.”
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