CHICAGO — Two Chicago chess organizations are expanding as the pastime continues to experience a boom in popularity both in the city and worldwide.

Shows like “The Queen’s Gambit” and a desire to find something to do during the pandemic have been partially responsible for chess’s increase in popularity across generations — but especially young people — according to a 2023 report by PBS.

Both Jonathan Silverstein, president of the Chicago Chess Center, and William Guerrero, founder of the Chicago Chess Club, have witnessed these trends firsthand and are growing their respective organizations to meet the demand.

Founded in 2012, the Chicago Chess Center operates out of a space Downtown at 47 W. Polk St., but Silverstein said the group is now planning to move.

The group’s new space at 166

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