Ryan Ferguson, John Dixon and Matthew Okunevich have something in common.

Besides being juniors at NIU, the three men meet every Wednesday at the Holmes Student Center. Not for a study group or a trip to McDonalds, but for the love of a common interest among them: chess.

Ferguson, a communication major; Dixon, a math-probability and statistics major; and Okunevich, a history major; have been actively involved with NIU’s Chess Club since the start of the club last year. Although the club currently has about nine members, all three men seem optimistic for the future of the Chess Club.

“We know that people are interested,” said Ferguson, vice president of the Chess Club. “It is just a matter of getting the word out that we are here.”

As of right now, the Student Association recognizes the Chess Club but does not fund it. As a result, the members of the Chess Club must provide their own chessboards and transportation if they want to attend tournaments among other schools or competitions.

“We went through the process of submitting for funding,” said Okunevich, president of the Chess Club. “But, they wouldn’t give us any money. They told us to do our own fund-raising because they said that we did not need their help. If we want to play other schools, there is no way for us to do it right now. It gets expensive to go to tournaments.”

The Chess Club usually plays five or six tournaments a year.

“I started playing chess freshman year of high school,” Ferguson said. “My dad gradually introduced it to me. I went through the list of activities in the school, and it said chess club. I showed up, and they were very good players. I kept on going, and it rubbed off on me.”

Although chess can be difficult, club members encourage everyone to join the organization, and are willing to teach people how to play the game.

“I wish there was a professor on campus who was also into chess,” Okunevich said when referring to teaching others to play chess. “But we are absolutely willing to teach.”

For Ferguson, chess is not just about playing the game, but relaxing as well.

“We talk about different things,” Ferguson said. “It is a great way to get your mind off things and have fun.”