Latest news with #socialConnection
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Of DJs and checkmates: London's Knight Club redefines chess for a new generation
LONDON, June 6 — Combining dance music, some social media buzz and one of the world's oldest pastimes, London chess group Knight Club draws dozens of players each week, creating a social space its organisers say is much-needed by the city's younger generations. The club has quickly grown into a cultural hub since launching last year, drawing over 100 players to its weekly Tuesday sessions where live DJ sets compete with the clatter of chess pieces on boards. In a world dominated by digital communication, the club – run largely by volunteers under the age of 25 – wants to offer a physical alternative to scrolling on screens. 'Having a game, or having something to bond over, or to start a conversation, enables really deep connections to be made from the get-go,' said 21-year-old organiser Lucia Ene-Lesikar. 'There's a lot of creative people, but there's also people who work in finance or work in tech or work in healthcare – so there's a whole range of people.' The club's appeal lies not just in the game itself, but in how it provides something modern life is often missing, founder Yusuf Ntahilaja told Reuters. 'Knight Club, first and foremost, is a space for people to connect and gather – chess being the medium and the most important way to connect – but more than anything, just providing ... a basic, or societal, human need,' he said. — Reuters
Reuters
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Reuters
London's Knight Club brings chess and chatter to a new generation
LONDON, June 6 (Reuters) - Combining dance music, some social media buzz and one of the world's oldest pastimes, London chess group Knight Club draws dozens of players each week, creating a social space its organisers say is much-needed by the city's younger generations. The club has quickly grown into a cultural hub since launching last year, drawing over 100 players to its weekly Tuesday sessions where live DJ sets compete with the clatter of chess pieces on boards. In a world dominated by digital communication, the club - run largely by volunteers under the age of 25 - wants to offer a physical alternative to scrolling on screens. "Having a game, or having something to bond over, or to start a conversation, enables really deep connections to be made from the get-go," said 21-year-old organiser Lucia Ene-Lesikar. "There's a lot of creative people, but there's also people who work in finance or work in tech or work in healthcare - so there's a whole range of people." The club's appeal lies not just in the game itself, but in how it provides something modern life is often missing, founder Yusuf Ntahilaja told Reuters. "Knight Club, first and foremost, is a space for people to connect and gather - chess being the medium and the most important way to connect - but more than anything, just providing ... a basic, or societal, human need," he said.
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
In Singapore, ‘third places' tap into yearning for deeper physical connection in digital age
When Rebecca Toh posted on social media in May 2024 to gauge interest in a community-run library in Singapore , she was surprised by the overwhelming response. It quickly became clear that the idea resonated not just because of a love for books, but because it tapped into a deeper yearning among Singaporeans for connection. Advertisement Less than three months later, Casual Poet Library opened at the void deck of a neighbourhood estate in Bukit Merah, fully funded by the community and run by volunteers. The cosy 450 sq ft space is lined with bookshelves, where people rent shelf space to share their personal collections. Many include handwritten notes or self-introductions, inviting visitors to connect and strike up conversations. 'It's a kind of community centre slash living room,' Toh said. 'You find something or someone that you connect with here.' Casual Poet Library, which is open to the public and hosts regular events from book clubs to craft markets, is a prime example of a third place in Singapore. Photo: Rebecca Toh In Singapore, a growing number of millennials and Gen Zs are actively seeking out and creating their own communities to meet new people. Across the island, such 'third places' – locations for informal socialising beyond work and home – are on the rise. Advertisement
