The Marina Chess Falcons chess club, hosted by the Friends of the Marina Library (FoML), is expanding to meet demand — good news for local kids who love the game.
Turnout has grown steadily over the past year, with recent sessions drawing 30 kids at a time — more than the library room (and Coach Joe) could comfortably handle solo. Starting now, the club meets twice a week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 3:30–5:00 pm at the Marina Library. Families can choose whichever day works best.
The club has also officially opened its doors wider. What started as a middle school program has organically grown to include younger siblings and friends tagging along, so Coach Joe has made it official: all grades K-12 are welcome, at any experience level.
Middle schoolers remain a core part of the club, thanks in part to community support through FoML’s “Middle School Magnificence” MCGives campaign last year.
The club is free, funded by FoML and MCGives. Funding supports Coach Joe’s instruction, chess swag (including pins for winning games), and two chess tournaments at the library each year — one for kids, one for adults — that draw players from around the region. Falcons club members are encouraged to test their skills at these tournaments.
Coach Joe, a retired Naval Postgraduate School physics professor and US Chess Category 1 player, leads the sessions. To sign up or ask questions, call 831-524-4488.
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