About us
Check Mates is a monthly offline chess hangout for people who enjoy playing chess and meeting new people on Sundays in Rotterdam. Chess is the starting point, conversation is the core. In order to join the hangouts get invited through this link , and follow the steps in your mail.
Fun science fact
Chess isnโt just a game of strategy. It invites you to think from someone elseโs perspective.
creating a shared mental space and making connecting feel easier, even for beginning players.
The location
All taking place is cool spots around the city, like micro-brewery Kaapse Maria and cultural centre Worm/Wunderbar. No competition/tournament pressure. Just tables, boards, a drink and time to play, talk, and connect.
The hangout
Everyone is welcome, from complete beginners to 2000+ Elo players.
We match tables based on level and preference. So whether youโre new to the game or already deep into openings and endgames, this evening is about connection over competition. Expect cozy chaos and good company.
The host
Each session is lightly hosted. The host opens the afternoon, sets the tone, and highlights stories from the community. After that, the space is open and self-guided. No hierarchy, no instruction, no pressure. Get a visual impression of last session โ on Instagram:
The community
Julie and Matthijs started this open chess community, because playing chess analogue is an unique social opportunity to hang out and connect. Within 3 month's our community is more than 150 people and we're growing fast.
Check Mates is part of Shared Obsessions: A growing community of monthly creative social hangouts that connect people through cultural niches โ chess, vintage, music, art and more.
Upcoming events
5
โ๏ธ Check Mates ๐๐ผ Play chess, find your people. All levels
Sonoor, Schiedamseweg 2A, Rotterdam, NLโ๏ธ A monthly social chess hangout of 40 - 50 people who enjoy playing chess analogue and meeting new people in Rotterdam. Chess is the excuse, the people are the point.
Check Mates
It's not a tournament. It's a hangout where people who like chess sit down across from each other, play a game, and end up in a conversation. No competition pressure. Just boards, a drink, and time together.Want to come? Reserve your spot here โ
https://www.sharedobsessions.com/check-mates
Spots fill fast because the community gets early access.
A "Going" on Meetup unfortunately doesn't hold your place.50 spots open after each event and usually fill within 48 hours.
Who comes
Everyone from complete beginners to 2000+ Elo players. We match by level so every game feels good. Whether you've just touched a piece or you're deep into openings and endgames, this afternoon is about connection over competition.How it works
The host opens the afternoon and sets the tone. After that the space is yours, self-guided, open, no pressure. You find someone to play, you switch after each game, you meet new people. We close together at the end.Chess invites you to think from someone else's perspective, creating a shared mental space that makes connecting feel surprisingly easy, even for beginners.
The community
Started by Julie and Matthijs in Rotterdam. Now 200+ people and growing, not because we scaled, but because people keep coming back and bringing someone with them.
Check Mates is part of Shared Obsessions, monthly creative hangouts that connect people through cultural niches: chess, music, vintage, art and more.The location
All taking place is cool spots around the city, like micro-brewery Kaapse Maria and cultural centre Worm/Wunderbar, restaurant Rotonde, listening bar Sonoor.Check out: Sharedobsessions.com
35 attendees
โ๏ธ Check mates ๐๐ผ Play chess, find your people. All levels
Restaurant Rotonde, Goudsesingel 230A, 3011 KE, Rotterdam, NLโ๏ธ A monthly social chess hangout of 40 - 50 people who enjoy playing chess analogue and meeting new people in Rotterdam. Chess is the excuse, the people are the point.
Check Mates
It's not a tournament. It's a hangout where people who like chess sit down across from each other, play a game, and end up in a conversation. No competition pressure. Just boards, a drink, and time together.Want to come? Reserve your spot here โ
https://www.sharedobsessions.com/check-mates
Spots fill fast because the community gets early access.
A "Going" on Meetup unfortunately doesn't hold your place.50 spots open after each event and usually fill within 48 hours.
Who comes
Everyone from complete beginners to 2000+ Elo players. We match by level so every game feels good. Whether you've just touched a piece or you're deep into openings and endgames, this afternoon is about connection over competition.How it works
The host opens the afternoon and sets the tone. After that the space is yours, self-guided, open, no pressure. You find someone to play, you switch after each game, you meet new people. We close together at the end.Chess invites you to think from someone else's perspective, creating a shared mental space that makes connecting feel surprisingly easy, even for beginners.
The community
Started by Julie and Matthijs in Rotterdam. Now 200+ people and growing, not because we scaled, but because people keep coming back and bringing someone with them.
Check Mates is part of Shared Obsessions, monthly creative hangouts that connect people through cultural niches: chess, music, vintage, art and more.The location
All taking place is cool spots around the city, like micro-brewery Kaapse Maria and cultural centre Worm/Wunderbar, restaurant Rotonde, listening bar Sonoor.Check out: Sharedobsessions.com
1 attendeeโ๏ธ Check Mates ๐๐ผ Play chess, find your people. All levels
Restaurant Rotonde, Goudsesingel 230A, 3011 KE, Rotterdam, NLโ๏ธ A monthly social chess hangout of 40 - 50 people who enjoy playing chess analogue and meeting new people in Rotterdam. Chess is the excuse, the people are the point.
Check Mates
It's not a tournament. It's a hangout where people who like chess sit down across from each other, play a game, and end up in a conversation. No competition pressure. Just boards, a drink, and time together.Want to come? Reserve your spot here โ
https://www.sharedobsessions.com/check-mates
Spots fill fast because the community gets early access.
A "Going" on Meetup unfortunately doesn't hold your place.50 spots open after each event and usually fill within 48 hours.
Who comes
Everyone from complete beginners to 2000+ Elo players. We match by level so every game feels good. Whether you've just touched a piece or you're deep into openings and endgames, this afternoon is about connection over competition.How it works
The host opens the afternoon and sets the tone. After that the space is yours, self-guided, open, no pressure. You find someone to play, you switch after each game, you meet new people. We close together at the end.Chess invites you to think from someone else's perspective, creating a shared mental space that makes connecting feel surprisingly easy, even for beginners.
The community
Started by Julie and Matthijs in Rotterdam. Now 200+ people and growing, not because we scaled, but because people keep coming back and bringing someone with them.
Check Mates is part of Shared Obsessions, monthly creative hangouts that connect people through cultural niches: chess, music, vintage, art and more.The location
All taking place is cool spots around the city, like micro-brewery Kaapse Maria and cultural centre Worm/Wunderbar, restaurant Rotonde, listening bar Sonoor.Check out: Sharedobsessions.com
1 attendeeโ๏ธ Check mates ๐๐ผ Play chess, find your people. All levels
Restaurant Rotonde, Goudsesingel 230A, 3011 KE, Rotterdam, NLโ๏ธ A monthly social chess hangout of 40 - 50 people who enjoy playing chess analogue and meeting new people in Rotterdam. Chess is the excuse, the people are the point.
Check Mates
It's not a tournament. It's a hangout where people who like chess sit down across from each other, play a game, and end up in a conversation. No competition pressure. Just boards, a drink, and time together.Want to come? Reserve your spot here โ
https://www.sharedobsessions.com/check-mates
Spots fill fast because the community gets early access.
A "Going" on Meetup unfortunately doesn't hold your place.50 spots open after each event and usually fill within 48 hours.
Who comes
Everyone from complete beginners to 2000+ Elo players. We match by level so every game feels good. Whether you've just touched a piece or you're deep into openings and endgames, this afternoon is about connection over competition.How it works
The host opens the afternoon and sets the tone. After that the space is yours, self-guided, open, no pressure. You find someone to play, you switch after each game, you meet new people. We close together at the end.Chess invites you to think from someone else's perspective, creating a shared mental space that makes connecting feel surprisingly easy, even for beginners.
The community
Started by Julie and Matthijs in Rotterdam. Now 200+ people and growing, not because we scaled, but because people keep coming back and bringing someone with them.
Check Mates is part of Shared Obsessions, monthly creative hangouts that connect people through cultural niches: chess, music, vintage, art and more.The location
All taking place is cool spots around the city, like micro-brewery Kaapse Maria and cultural centre Worm/Wunderbar, restaurant Rotonde, listening bar Sonoor.Check out: Sharedobsessions.com
1 attendee
Past events
9
