In Deloraine, an unassuming yet thriving chess community meets every Wednesday evening at the British Hotel. Led by Christian Duboudin, the Deloraine Chess Club has become a hub for players of all skill levels, from complete beginners to seasoned strategists.
Duboudin, who has been running the club for three years, welcomes anyone with an interest in the game. “We run it every Wednesday, starting at 6 o’clock, going to approximately 8 or 8:30,” he explains. “Everyone is welcome, people who are starting from complete beginners to more advanced players.” The club operates on a simple gold coin donation system, which helps cover the cost of replacing chess pieces and maintaining essential equipment. Whether players are new to the game or bring years of experience, the club provides a welcoming environment for all.
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Chess has been a part of Duboudin’s life since childhood. “My father taught me many years ago when I was a little fella, about seven or eight years of age,” he recalls. However, with few opponents to play against, his interest waned until about a decade ago, when he rediscovered the game through online resources. “Effectively, the internet explosion of chess, which took place over the COVID times, 2020 and beyond, really got me into it far more seriously.”
His passion for the game has extended beyond casual play—he has also spent years teaching chess to primary school-aged children. In Melbourne, he worked alongside one of Australia’s grandmasters, Darryl Johansen, in a program designed to help young players develop their skills. “Children after school time would be in groups from beginning level to intermediate to advanced groups,” Duboudin explains. “Tactical puzzles were presented and other challenges were presented, and then the children would play off against each other.”
Though that program was based in Melbourne, Duboudin is open to introducing something similar in Deloraine. “Certainly, if the opportunity presented itself,” he says. He has already taken on a few private students in Launceston, particularly within the homeschooling community, and has seen significant progress in their abilities. “They were complete beginners, but they’ve advanced quite a long way.”
Beyond weekly casual games, the Deloraine Chess Club also hosts regular competitions. “After about six months of the club being alive and going, we started having regular tournaments on the first Wednesday of every month,” Duboudin says. Each game follows a timed format, with players given 10 minutes per match. Over the course of the year, the club keeps a record of victories, and the top-performing player earns the honour of having their name engraved on the Deloraine Chess Championship trophy plate.
The most recent champion is Luke Watson, a mechatronic engineer who is soon moving to the UK. His name will join past winners on the club’s championship trophy, marking his achievement before he embarks on his next chapter abroad.
Attendance at the club varies from week to week. “We can have small numbers like two or three, but it could be as high as a dozen,” Duboudin notes. “I think the most we ever had was 14 or 15 one particular time.” Despite the fluctuations, a sense of camaraderie and shared learning remains at the heart of the club. “When you get a good number of people, it tends to be that they end up feeding off one another,” he says. “They help each other, they give each other ideas and thoughts about good moves, tactics, ideas, and so on.”
For Duboudin, the beauty of chess lies in its depth and complexity. “Somebody once said… that only chess players can see the future,” he muses. “I like the idea that you have to be able to see what’s coming ahead of you in order to play well.”
As long as there are players eager to learn and engage in the game, the Deloraine Chess Club will continue to offer a space for strategic battles, friendly rivalries, and, most importantly, a shared love of chess.
