From Novato to the World: Chess as a Common Language of Peace

By Chris Major

President, Novato Chess Club

When Novato Chess Club first began, it wasn’t about trophies, ratings, or titles. It was about something simpler—and far more powerful: connection.

A chessboard doesn’t care where you’re from. It doesn’t ask what language you speak, what religion you follow, or what side of a border you live on. You sit down. You shake hands. And in silence, you communicate.

Over the past several years, that quiet language of chess has carried me far beyond Novato.

Through chess outreach and service work, I’ve had the privilege of helping spread the game across Africa, Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico—working with schools, clubs, and community groups who see chess not just as a game, but as a tool for learning, respect, and peace. Everywhere the board appeared, the result was the same: strangers became opponents, opponents became learners, and learners became friends.

Now, something remarkable is happening.

Later this month, I will be making my first foray into Europe, invited as a special guest speaker to the Rotary District 1130 International Forum in the United Kingdom, taking place virtually on January 29, 2026. The invitation came from Ken Abiodun, Chair of the District 1130 International Service Committee—someone I first met in Calgary through Rotary’s global network of service above self.

This forum will bring together Rotary Clubs across the UK to explore international service projects, and I’ve been invited to showcase how chess has become a bridge between cultures—and how it can continue to do so.

That matters. Especially now.

With a world that feels increasingly fractured, loud, and volatile, chess offers something quietly radical:

a shared space where competition and respect coexist.

Chess is a sacred language of peace—

unspoken, unheard, yet deeply understood.

In the silence of the board, we compete.

In that competition, we learn.

And through learning, we gain respect.

This upcoming presentation will focus on:

The beginnings of Novato Chess Club and how a local idea became a global mission

The role of Rotary International in amplifying service-driven chess initiatives

Why chess uniquely serves as a common language across borders, cultures, and generations

It’s a short presentation—just 5 to 10 minutes—but the implications are big.

European Rotarians reaching out feels like more than an invitation. It feels like momentum. A sign that chess-based peace initiatives are resonating beyond where they began. And who knows where that momentum could lead next—perhaps even to a future Rotary International Peace Chess Tournament, spanning continents, from Europe to places like Taiwan, and beyond.

From a few boards in Novato to communities around the globe, the mission remains the same:

Use chess to teach patience.

Use chess to teach respect.

Use chess to remind us that even in competition, peace is possible.

I’m deeply grateful—to Rotary, to Ken, and to everyone who has supported Novato Chess Club along this journey.

The board is set.

The next move is Europe.

♟️

— Chris Major

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