Where to Play Chess and Make Friends in Vancouver
Vancouver can be a fun and vibrant city — if you know where to find local events and activities to join. Otherwise, it can sometimes feel like a quiet and isolating place, especially when trying to make new friends. One of the best ways to connect with people in Vancouver is by getting involved in the city's growing chess community.
Chess events are held across the city on different days of the week, offering a perfect opportunity to meet others who share the same passion. Among the players, you'll find a wide range of skill levels, including those rated over 1500 and even some with impressive FIDE ratings above 2200, such as Roman Jiganchine who is the author of 7 chess books.
Don't miss out on Vancouver’s exciting chess meetups and tournaments — it’s a chance to play alongside some of the best Canadian players and improve your game while building new friendships.
Chess Events and Clubs in Vancouver
Blenz Café (Davie & Bute Street)
- When: Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
- Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Details: Bring your own equipment or borrow boards and chess sets from some of the main players there. A great casual atmosphere for all levels.
More About the Blenz Café Chess Community
The Blenz Café chess community has a long and colorful history in Vancouver. For over a couple of decades, players moved from one place to another, Robson Square to Stanley Park or one Blenz Café to another, and many other spots around the city. For the past 5 or 6 years, the group has finally settled at the Blenz Café on Davie and Bute Street, right at the heart of the vibrant Davie Village.
Jan’s story as president of the club began in 1981 when he moved to Canada. He first started playing chess in New Westminster, and after relocating to Vancouver, he began joining casual chess games in downtown around 1984. This was when the foundation of the chess club was taking shape, with regular games at Robson Square and the Denman Community Centre.
Some of the early members included Jan himself, Doug, Patrick, Del, Coach, and Reza, with Del being the longest-standing member of the group. Another player at that time was Shiraz, who was known for playing chess at Robson Square while betting a few dollars per game with tourists, often playing up to four games at once. Shiraz sometimes made good money from these matches. However, betting was never part of the club’s tradition — the official chess club members always played purely for fun, not for money.
Back then, the routine was simple: players gathered for afternoon games at Robson Square and then moved to Blenz Café at Robson and Cardero after 9 PM to continue playing into the night.
Michael from Serbia was another long-time member, known as one of the strongest players in the club. Although he no longer joins due to old age, he was a familiar face for many years and a strong player who could take on any chess member easily due to his experience and tactical style.
During the renovation of Blenz at Robson and Cardero around six to seven years ago, the group temporarily relocated to the Coco Rico restaurant near Robson Square. Afterward, they eventually found a new home at Blenz Café on Davie and Bute Street.
In 2024, when the Davie and Bute Blenz underwent its own renovations, the players briefly moved to the Blenz at Granville and Davie for a couple of months before returning to their regular spot at Davie and Bute.
At its peak, the largest gatherings of the chess group were at the Blenz Café on Robson and Cardero, where dozens of players came together nightly for friendly — and sometimes fiercely competitive — games.
There are around 25-30 active members of the chess club who show up regularly to play chess.
As I mentioned earlier, among the familiar faces, Del from Saskatchewan stands out as one of the longest-playing members. Known for his signature phrase whenever he makes a strong move — “Now we are playing chess!” — Del brings humor and spirit to every game.
The president of the club, Jan from Slovakia, has an equally rich story. Jan moved to Canada in 1981 and has been actively playing chess here ever since. After retiring in 2004, he became one of the most dedicated members of the Blenz chess group. Jan shared that over the years, he has witnessed the passing of about ten long-time players, a testament to the strong, almost family-like bonds within the group.
Some players, like those who played at the old Blenz on Cordova and Robson, have been around for more than a decade. William, who joined the group around 2018, has become a regular at the club.
Reza from Iran, who has been part of the group for over 20 years. Known for his aggressive style and his signature opening with white, known as the Reza system.
Mathew is another well-known member of the group. He’s easy to spot with his gloves, a bucket hat covering his head, and the small cushion he always brings to sit on. Known for his playful spirit, he often jokes, “I want my money back!” whenever many blunders occur in a game. Other signature phrases are “Don't develop your pieces, you might win”, “Chess brutality” and “playing more honkey than dori”.
The Blenz chess scene also boasts a wide range of skill levels — from casual players to rated experts. Notably, Roman Jiganchine, an accomplished player with a FIDE rating over 2200 and the author of seven chess books, occasionally plays among them.
Other notable members include:
Thomas, one of the most entertaining players, is known humorously as the “horseman” because of his strong dislike for knights and his tendency to capture them early on in the game. He has been playing with the group for more than three years.
Roonie from Iran, known for his signature openings, and unusual moves sometimes.
Amer from Syria, known for his aggressive style of playing. An avid player of numerous chess gambits.
Khaled from Egypt, a humorous and strong chess player.
Kaveh from Iran, the youngest member at just 20 years old. Known for his London system when playing white.
David is another kind and quiet member of the club. He often sits and observes the games, enjoying reading chess books and recreating the matches he studies. Later during the day, he usually joins in to play a few games.
Saeed from Iran, one of the kindest chess players to play at Blenz cafe. He is very social and likes to meet new people.
Nestor from Bolivia, is a great salsa dancer who used to have a dance club. Furthermore, he likes to write scripts for movies and direct short films, he also used to organize chess tournaments at his dance club in Yaletown.
Another colorful character, Yayo, loved to play chess for money and, after the group stopped playing for cash games, he chose to part ways but remains remembered for his fierce competitive spirit.
Alain from France, a creative painter and an artist who draws portraits of the different chess players, and is known to play long games on his phone.
The group has seen its share of loss and remembrance:
Patrick, a beloved member, passed away in 2024 at 43 years old. A professional musician who used to play guitar and piano. He was blindly in love with a girl called Sofia who used to come at Blenz cafe.
June, a Filipino player, passed away in 2021. In his memory, a Taiwanese player known as JD organizes an annual tournament to honor June’s love for the game.
Alex, another long-time player who passed away in 2021, was fondly remembered for asking opponents before each game: “What game do you want to play — professional or romantic?”. Another signature phrase of his was “Do nothing, and do it slowly”.
Vancouver Public Library – Central Library (Vancity Chess)
- Where: 9th Floor, Vancouver Public Library, 350 W Georgia St.
- When: Every Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Website: vancitychess.ca
- Details: No need to bring any equipment — Vancity Chess sponsors the boards, pieces, and clocks. Just come ready to play!
Brock House Chess Club
- Where: Brock House Society Activity Centre for Seniors, 3875 Point Grey Road, Vancouver
- When: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (in the Sun Room)
- Details: Open to all levels, including beginners. Some sets are available, but you’re welcome to bring your own.
- Contact: Roger at [email protected]
- Note: Limited to a maximum of 10 players. Always check updated times at brockhousesociety.com.
Croatian Community Chess Club
- Where: Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
- When: Every Sunday at 1:00 PM
- Format: 5 rounds, 30-minute time control per game.
- Contact: Robert Topic, 604-298-0543 or [email protected]
