What we’re about
WELCOME TO OUR CHESS CLUB IN PETALING JAYA (SELANGOR, MALAYSIA)!
NetFlix's The Queen's Gambit brought you to chess? Or you came here because you discovered the fascinating world of chess during the Pandemic? Or you're getting back to chess after N number of years, and are looking to join a local club of chess-playing individuals? Look NO further!
We meet at a public place for fun sessions chess games. All levels are welcome. The purpose of the group is for chess lovers to meet weekly. If you're a local or an expatriate who loves chess and you are looking for chess friends in Petaling Jaya and the Klang Valley, this is the group. If you are a parent and have children who like to play chess, then bring them along!
On a more serious note, Malaysia is one Asian country with many resources, but alas, no FIDE Chess Grandmasters. We hope that if you are a parent with a son or daughter who loves chess, and you wish to give as much chess-playing exposure as possible to your young one, by all means join us! Let's make chess in Malaysia not just great again, but simply, GREAT!
Truth be told, most of the chess players who come for the Saturday meetups are male. We have had some female players visit us in the past, and we may have at least one female player for each meeting. Anyway, if you are a girl or woman player who loves chess, you are most welcome to join us for a game or two.
Every Saturday, 3pm to 6pm, Klang Valley's and Petaling Jaya's chess social group named "Chess For Fun Club - eat play laugh" meets at Chiquyo Japanese Restaurant, Amcorp Mall. The meetup address is Amcorp Mall, Lot 316 & 317, Level 3, 18, Persiaran Barat, Seksyen 52, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
- Google Maps: https://bit.ly/amcorpchess
- Nearest LRT station is Taman Jaya which is 400meters or 5 minutes walk away)
So welcome once again to the "Chess For Fun Club - eat play laugh" social group. Make yourself at home. The group was formed in January 2019.
GM Frankie Kam
19th January 2024
Note: GM stands for Genetically Modified. And Grown Man.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Chess Meetup 26th July 2025 (3:00pm-6:00pm) Amcorp MallChiquyo Japanese Restaurant, Petaling Jaya
This Saturday, 26th July 2025, 3:00pm to 6:00pm, Klang Valley's and Petaling Jaya's chess social group named "Chess For Fun Club - eat play laugh" will hold its weekly Saturday meetup at Chiquyo Japanese Restaurant, Amcorp Mall. The address is Amcorp Mall, Lot 316 & 317, Level 3, 18, Persiaran Barat, Seksyen 52, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Google Maps: https://bit.ly/amcorpchess
If you are able to join us, do let Frankie Kam know via WhatsApp (+6011-2001 1429). All chess lovers of any level (beginners to masters) are welcome.
See you there!
Frankie Kam
WhatsApp +6011-20011429FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Does the venue serve food and drinks?
A: Yes it does. If you wish to taste their fare, here's Chiquyo Japanese Restaurant's menu.
Q: What else is important for me to know?
The restaurant closes down to rest from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. So during this lull period, chess players may use the outside wooden tables and wooden chairs for their games. Please be informed and be mindful that at 5:30pm, Chiquyo Japanese Restaurant reopens for business. Therefore all chess players who are using the restaurant's outside wooden tables, are REQUIRED to vacate the wooden tables at 5:30pm, as from 5:30pm onwards, such tables are meant for paying-eating customers only. Players are requested to find a free plastic table to resume their games after 5:30pm.
Q: Any don'ts?
Please bear in mind that the playing area is situated on Level 3. The playing area is of course bordered by a safety waist-high ledge barrier. Beyond that barrier is a 40 foot drop to the ground floor. All minors or toddlers brought to the event have to be minded at all times to ensure their safety. In addition, please do your utmost to ensure that NO OBJECT falls over the ledge onto the ground floor shoppers. In the past, we had one 'incident' of a chess piece falling all the way from Level 3 onto the ground floor. This happened due a moment of excitement and accidental carelessness, which unfortunately resulted in the chess piece falling off the edge of the playing area. Thankfully, no one on the ground floor was hit by the falling chess piece, so no injuries were reported. The chess piece, a white pawn, was chipped beyond useful re-use and had to be discarded. Even though no human was injured in the incident, we treat safety at the event seriously, as any untoward incident may jeopardise the continuity of the club at the Amcorp Mall itself. Therefore when playing chess at the venue, please behave rationally and ensure that no object falls off the Level 3.
Q: What about parking?
A: There is free parking opposite the LRT, across the road, but you'll need walk about 300 metres from the open-air 'carpark' to Amcorp Mall. You can also park at Amcorp Mall's indoor carpark but you will need a Touch'N Go card with at least RM20 credit, The Saturday parking fee is RM3.20 per entry. If you park at Amcorp's outdoor parking lot with its higher hourly or per-entry rate (RM10).
Q: I'm just a beginner in chess, a newbie, and I started playing 'seriously' just a few years ago. Is that okay?
A: Everybody starts as a beginner in chess. Yes, it is perfectly okay to be a beginner in chess. You won't win many (or any!) games against a more experienced player in our Meetup, but there should be enough players at roughly the same level as you, to give you a challenge and a chance to win some games.
Q: Is there a fee to pay to join your chess Meetups?
A: There is NO membership fee. It's completely FREE! We do invite you to help yourself to the Chiquyo Japanese Restaurant's menu and to buy a drink or a meal if you wish to. Please note that the Restaurant does not take orders from 3:30pm-5:30pm as that is their rest hour. We can continue to play at the tables and chairs outside the restaurant during that time.
Q: Do I need to bring a chess set to your Meetup?
A: There is NO NEED for you to bring a chess set to the event. We have 16 chess sets to use, and that is more than enough to cater for 32 players. Having said that, you are most welcome to bring your own chess set, but it is not necessary to do so. If you do not have a chess set of your own, do consider buying a tournament size chess set (click here!) as a long-term investment and so that you can bring one along for the meetups.
Q: How do I get a chess set to use?
A: The restaurant keeps a large plastic container with 16 chess sets inside of it. The container is kept at the counter, facing the entrance of the restaurant. It is the responsibility of the club members (the first person to arrive for the event) to bring the container out of the restaurant and to place it where the spare chairs are outside of the restaurant's entrance. It is also the responsibility of the Club (specifically the last individual to leave the event) to bring the container with the chess sets, into the restaurant at the end of the event.Q: Do you have a WhatsApp group? How do I join your WhatsApp group?
A: Just send Frankie (+6011-20011429) a text message on WhatsApp. You will be sent the "Blitz Chess Meet Friends" WhatsApp group's Terms Of Usage (TOU) to agree to. If you agree to, and agree to abide by the TOU, Frankie will add you to the "Blitz Chess Meet Friends" WhatsApp group.
We currently have close to 300 participants.Q: Which LRT station is the nearest to Amcorp Mall?
A: The closest Light Rail Transit (LRT) station is Taman Jaya LRT station, which is located 300 metres, or 4 minute walk away. Better to join our WhatsApp group and text that you need transport help.
Q: I'm just passing through Malaysia/Kuala Lumpur/Petaling Jaya on a short visit. Can I join in your sessions?
A: You are most welcome to join us, even if just for one Saturday! If you are a FIDE GM/WGM, Frankie will treat you a nice meal off from the menu free of charge as you will be our Guest Of Honour!
Q: Can I play chess on Saturdays before 3pm and after 6pm?
A: Update on 20th July 2025. Chess Meetup FAQ.
The Chiqoyu Japanese Restaurant management has kindly requested that players arriving early for the Amcorp Chess Meetup to only start their games at 3pm, and not earlier, even if they are seating on the plastic tables. This is because before 3pm they have eating customers and the Restaurant prefers that chess players refrain from starting their games before 3pm.If you do arrive before 3pm, please do not sit at the wooden tables. You may sit at the outside plastic tables. There are 7 such tables. Games usually start to wrap up around 5:50pm, but if you can stay past 6pm if you can spare the time. Usually we will take a group photoshoot before 6:00pm. Our meetup event officially ends at 6pm.
Q: How big is the group in your Meetup events?
A: Varies from 10 to 20. On rare occasions we have been known to hit 30 or more attendees. More if you come.
Q: Do you guys sell chess clocks/sets/boards?
A: We don't sell chess items as we are not a business. If you ask Frankie on this, he will share with you a contact who can assist you to buy the item(s) that you need.
Q: Do you guys teach or coach chess?
A: There are so far no teaching sessions at our Meetups. If you would like the services of chess coach, please contact Frankie Kam and he will get you in touch with one of his chess coach contacts.
Q: Do you have any YouTube videos of your meetups?
A: Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib78-6whdUI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8lRBKh_UHE
End of FAQ.
