“A Gymnasium of the Mind”
Chess Club: A Library Sponsored Activity for the Community
By Robert McClelland, Between Friends Staff Writer

Early one Thursday afternoon I visited the Blount County Chess Club congregated in the Teen Central area of the library, where three games were already in progress.
Hoping to speak to Tom Jobe, the club mentor, I learned that he had sadly passed away in March. Tom was a true mentor, who very patiently introduced people to the intricacies of chess, infecting them with love for the game. He is sorely missed by both current and former club members. Fortunately, the club continues under the guidance of two volunteers—Mark Garner, a district public defender and Robert Byrd, a student at South College in Knoxville. Plans for an annual Tom Jobe Memorial Tournament are already underway, with the hope that at least one hundred players will participate.
The chess club has been in existence in Blount County since the mid-60’s, moving from one location to another over the years. It has been meeting at the library for at least a decade.

The club’s basic mission is to provide a space for people of all ages to acquaint themselves with the game, benefit from playing it and enjoy the experience. Tom Jobe always had two questions for those who played, “Did you have fun, and did you learn?”
There is quite a range of experience and skill among attendees—some have never played before or know only some of the basics, while others are highly skilled and have been devotees for years. The club meets on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A rated tournament is held on one Saturday each month in the library.
Everyone, regardless of age, is welcome. The game itself has many benefits. It helps to improve one’s creativity, problem-solving skills, memory, concentration and—one that parents will definitely appreciate—the ability to sit still.

There is an added benefit especially important for seniors. Research shows that individuals engaging in the mental calisthenics of chess and other brain-stretching activities are less likely to develop dementia.
Although Tom Jobe is no longer ably guiding the club, it will surely continue to flourish, giving young and old a chance to their expand skills, engage their minds, and enjoy some camaraderie.
Tom Jobe Memorial Open Class Tournament at Blount County Library Saturday June 17, 9-5