The Quiet Click of the Clock: Reflections from Street Gambit Pilot #2
Of course he plays the bird, Asia Square: Nicolai vs Bird
I’m sitting at Asia Square, the epicentre of casual over-the-board (OTB) chess in Singapore. The Street Gambit is built for adults who want to play real games with real people, casually, on your own terms, with no tournaments or pressure. It’s quiet and empty this Sunday afternoon, broken only by the soft splash of the fountain behind us and three crows chirping above. Across the table, Bhavin and Rai are deep in an intense game; the only sound is the subtle click of the clock each time one of them makes a move.
Reflecting on this week’s matches feels like flipping through a mini-tournament. Curtis pulled off some wild swindles with his aggressive play, hoping to catch everyone off guard. Tan dropped by for a quick game and found himself checkmated in just three moves. Meanwhile, Logesh tested his tactics on each opponents, dishing out a few well-earned lessons along the way. Each match had its own story.
Bridging the Online–Offline Chess Gap
What does the future hold for The Street Gambit? My vision starts with a striking number: Chess.com now has over 225 million registered members worldwide[1]. In contrast, fewer than 360,000 players compete in officially rated FIDE events[2]. In other words, the vast majority of chess enthusiasts play only online, leaving a huge gap in the in-person scene. Even here in Singapore, countless players log on every day, but far fewer sit down face-to-face. My goal with The Street Gambit is to help shrink that gap, to grow our casual OTB chess community and spark those human connections across ages and backgrounds.
To spread the word, I even pitched this idea at Founders Live, a startup event. We’ll see what comes of it! (If you’re curious, you can check out my pitch) In the meantime, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn if you have feedback or want to collaborate.
Growth Goals
We’re aiming big. My target for Singapore is to have 1,000 players involved in Street Gambit events. Right now, about 88 people have signed up in our community, with roughly 35 active players regularly showing up. For the next round of meetups, I’d like to hit 200 sign-ups. I plan to kick off that round in about two weeks. (Normally, I’d start sooner, but I’ll be off in the Philippines doing some scuba diving and also need a bit of prep time.) In summary, every week we’re growing the group: more sign-ups, more games, more fun.
Lessons & Observations
The Street Gambit going at it at Asia Square
Our new group-of-four format has been a game-changer. I never had to cancel a meetup because someone was missing. With four players, we can still pair off even if one is a no-show. When there are 4 or 3 people, the session flows smoothly; even one-on-one play with just two people works well if needed. Overall, this pilot has gone great, and the biggest surprise has been how friendly everyone is. I honestly expected more friction as we expanded, people rated closely might get competitive or even salty, but instead, every game has been respectful and fun. Lastly, almost everyone brought their own board, which is awesome. The chess clock adds a little extra tension and excitement, though it’s not absolutely necessary.
One thing I plan to improve is the equipment situation. Many players have asked about buying quality sets and clocks. I will definitely start selling my own chess sets and digital clocks at future events. In the meantime, I recommend checking out Chess.sg for good travel boards and clocks, just tell them Nicolai from The Street Gambit sent you 😉.
Gear & Venues
Chess sets & clocks: We’ll continue encouraging players to bring a board. I’m looking into stocking a small inventory for sale at events. Chess.sg is great for travel-friendly boards and clocks if you want to pick your own now.
Best venues: So far, open public squares are ideal – they’re free, have plenty of tables, and even attract curious onlookers. Cafés are a close second (coffee and snacks make chess even nicer). Some players have asked about trying bars; I might experiment with one or two.
Boardgame cafés: We’ve stepped back from those. Even though many didn’t mind paying a cover charge, most chain boardgame cafés don’t have the right equipment or the vibe we want. It feels more natural to meet in a squares or cafe where people can just drop by and play.
Socials & Future Plans
Social media: I do have accounts on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, where I’m posting famous game highlights. Right now, I’m mostly learning to edit, so no need to follow just yet, but stay tuned for more content soon.
Website/app: Work has begun on building a Street Gambit website and app to make signing up and matching easier. Excitingly, two have volunteered to give their version, and stepped forward to help code it.
New venues: I’m always scouting new meetup spots, other parks, pubs with game nights, cafe spaces, you name it. If you know a great public square or a quiet corner in a bar, let me know!
Your ideas: You’ve been full of fantastic suggestions. I’ve heard ideas like a weekly Opening-of-the-Week, friendly mini-tournaments, a “gauntlet challenge” ladder, group lessons, and more. Keep those ideas coming, I’m super excited to try new formats and events as we grow.
Join the Community
A huge thanks to everyone for the good games and great spirit this week, you all are awesome! If you’ve enjoyed these meetups, please spread the word to friends, family, or coworkers who might like casual chess. Here are a few ways you can help us grow:
· Invite friends: Get a buddy to sign up or tell someone about The Street Gambit. Every new player adds more fun to the games!
· Connect with me: Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn (Nicolai Thorball) to say hi or share ideas. I’m always happy to chat about chess.
· Stay in touch: The more people we get playing face-to-face, the stronger our community becomes. Thanks again for all the good vibes, I can’t wait for the next round of games!
Thank you all for the games, and see you at the board (or the next fountain)!
Sources:
[1] Like Jeff Bezos and Howard Schultz, Chess.com's cofounder says people doubted his vision—with a 225 million-user empire, he's now having the last laugh | Fortune
[2] How Many Chess Players Are There In The World? - Chess.com
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-many-chess-players-are-there-in-the-world
