By Sophie Tuan
Found in room 20 every Thursday A-day, Chinese Chess Club is a great way to learn, not only how to play the traditional board game, but also about Chinese culture, language, and community. Chinese Chess, or Xiangqi (象棋), was invented during the second century; although strategy can be complex, the basic rules of the game are easy to pick up and perfect for new players. Curtis Ma, the club mascot, exclaims that “Chinese Chess is even better than normal chess!” Students who attend can also learn how to play Mahjong (麻將)—another traditional Chinese game played by matching tiles. Fun competitions held at lunch can win students prizes such as candy, snacks, or a giant K-Pop Demon Hunters poster. Recently, the club hosted a multi-school tournament at Westmont where the winning team got boba. Meetings are filled with games, trivia, laughter, food, and most importantly prizes! Chinese Chess Club is the perfect place to immerse yourself in Chinese culture and fun!