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Chess is one of the world’s most beloved games, offering sophistication, strategy, and endless opportunities for gameplay. In recent years, it has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, and now over 600 million people play the game worldwide.
With new players discovering chess every day, there has emerged a growing need for guidance into the formal aspects of the game as well as a hub where players can meet, learn, and play. For years, chess has been taught primarily through guidebooks and (more recently) online forums. Yet there has never before been a place where players of all levels can develop their skills, learn new techniques, and enjoy a community of fellow enthusiasts.
At Chess Made Fun, they are on a mission to make chess accessible to everyone. Led by CEO Yvonne White and acting CFO Warren White, Chess Made Fun offers a dynamic platform where new players can learn the game, developing players can receive one-on-one guidance from expert instructors, and anyone can participate in online matches and open play.
In doing so, Chess Made Fun is rapidly growing into the go-to resource for chess players around the country.
As Yvonne White explains, she did not grow up with a love for chess. It was only after meeting her husband Warren – who played often at local chess centers and loved the game – that she began developing as a player. The more she learned and practiced, however, the more she loved the game. Because chess is easy to learn but nearly impossible to master, players are able to deepen their knowledge and their passion with every match.
The only problem, Yvonne soon discovered, was that many of the chess resources were dry, technical documents, often stripping the game of its beauty and elegance. She felt called to teach chess in a new way, becoming a nationally licensed chess instructor before joining an after-school chess program.
“That is really where I fell in love with chess, seeing the students play and talking about playing with their families,” Yvonne says. “We knew that we wanted to create a business out of this, to find ways to teach people to enjoy the game and to teach players of all ages.”
Yvonne and Warren began by teaching chess locally, meeting with players ranging from elementary school children to older adults in senior living communities. They launched a boutique ecommerce store, selling chess equipment to schools and senior centers. They started a chess club in their county. Still, they knew that they wanted to do more – to reach more people and share their love for chess. As the global pandemic shifted the world increasingly online, Yvonne and Warren found their solution.
“We took our local chess club online, which was very tricky to work everything out, but we found a solution that works for us,” Yvonne says. “We used video integration built in with a virtual chessboard, so everyone can meet in one location.”
At Chess Made Fun, players can now learn and develop their skills from anywhere in the country, participating in virtual classes, meeting with a private instructor, or discovering local in-person chess centers thanks to the website’s nationwide directory. For those wanting to elevate their game quickly, Chess Made Fun offers a customized coach-matching system – pairing students with an expert instructor based on factors including skill level and availability.
What began as a passion project for Yvonne and Warren White has rapidly become a chess hub that is poised to change the way players discover, learn, and love the game. For Warren, that is the heart of Chess Made Fun: a resource that teaches players to enjoy one of the world’s most popular games, and an opportunity for friends and family to share their love for chess.
“We are not reinventing the wheel, but we are presenting chess in a new and different way,” Warren says. “Because when people are informed and learn chess the right way, they realize what a beautiful game it is, and how fulfilling it can be.”
To learn more about Chess Made Fun, visit www.chessmadefun.com.
Chess Made Fun provides moderately priced chess instruction, supporting products and technology tailored to the fun and learning of chess. Chess Made Fun provides and promotes opportunity, exploration and adventure in areas of specialized and applied learning.
Learning to play the game of chess benefits individuals, families, and communities. This remarkable game can build relationships among young and old while teaching patience, problem solving, planning ahead, and good sportsmanship. Join our chess community and let the fun begin!
