Chess, the oldest skill game in the world, has been popular around the world for more than a thousand years. However, since computer and video games have become prominent, the ancient game is losing popularity.

The Cyclone Chess Club is fighting to keep the traditional game alive at Iowa State.

Video games have become tough competition for chess, said Pete Karagianis, club president and senior in English.

“I think all of the modern stuff can rival [classic chess matches], just as the television came about and rivaled books,” he said. “I do think video games take away from the game of chess. One of the benefits of chess is that it involves a lot of mental thought and strategy, and that’s one of the things that many video games today lack.”

Despite the competition, chess is a game that will last, because it is enjoyed by people of all ages, said David Schmidt, secretary of the club and associate scientist for the ISU Institute for Combinatorial Discovery.

“Chess is the only game – well, some of us call it a sport – where a 5-year-old can sit across from an 80-year old, and both can have a good time,” Schmidt said.

Karagianis said the chess club stands out from other ISU clubs because of its informal atmosphere.

“We try to have a good time, and everybody is pretty good friends,” he said. “We’re also pretty competitive.”

Mostafa Zamanian, club member and graduate student in neuroscience, said one thing that sets the chess club apart from the other ISU clubs is the wide range of ages among its members.

“There is an older crowd,” he said. “You have students coming back, so it mixes and it gets fairly interesting. You get lots of elder members coming in from a nearby town that have been frequenting the club for decades.”

It can sometimes be awkward telling people you’re a member of the chess club, Karagianis said. He said he felt ashamed when telling his girlfriend about being in the chess club.

“I guess the classic stereotypes would be the nerd/geek type,” Zamanian said. “There is a vast array of people involved in chess, and some people fit into that mold. For the most part, it’s one of those unfounded things that if people were to go to the club, talk with us and play a game with us, they might be surprised.”

The ISU club meets at local cafes – often at Stomping Grounds, 303 Welch Ave. The meetings often consist of a short discussion of events, a series of short “blitz” games and reviews of games to help players see their mistakes. This really helps out when they participate in tournaments, Karagianis said.

“[During meetings] there is a lot of lighthearted blitz games and speed chess, and by lighthearted I mean a lot of trash-talking,” Zamanian said. “You’d be surprised. I don’t think you’d want to print half the things that are said.”

The tournament games lead to careful planning and furrowed brows, Schmidt said. He said the games can be very intense and some games can last up to four hours long during matches.