As we're expanding our chess activities, we wanted to also explore events in collaboration with other organizations and institutions.
Our first one of those will be with one of the top universities of Greece: The National Technical University of Athens, which happens to have a very reputable chess team (https://www.ntua.gr/en/news-en/item/3248-the-ntua-le-roi-chess-team-ranks-1-in-europe-5-in-the-world ).

After discussing with their organizing team (that also has a member working here at CERN), we've decided to organize a consultation match inspired by "Kasparov versus the World" and similar such events.
The concept is simple: for every move, our team here will discuss and jointly decide/vote on what to play. Then their team, with which we'll be remotely connected, will similarly respond with a move for their side. The aim is to play a couple of games like this, subject to how long these actually end up lasting.

Of course, we want as many people as possible to suggest moves and strategize on that day, so don't hesitate to join regardless of your chess level. Furthermore, due to the nature of this event there is no requirement for any single person to stay for the entire duration, so feel free to drop by whenever you're available!

🕑 When: Wednesday 27/05 starting from 17:30
📍 Where: R1 (board games area)
No registration necessary

It's March already which means the first R1 chess tournament of the season is long overdue!
Once again, everyone is welcome regardless of chess level, but beware the Ides of March...

🕑When: Sunday 15/03/2026 at 14:00
📍Where: R1 (board games section)
⌛Time control: 10' + 5"
♟ Format: Swiss (5 rounds) with mini-RR among people tied for 1st place if necessary
💲Free!

Registration link: https://forms.gle/1g2rAcc9p1LnQ2GX6

Once again, a successful and eventful year has passed. The experiments have seen many particle collisions, the R1 tables have seen many games played on them ... and in summer time, we hit the BBQ area for a second round of our annual BBQ.

In particular for those not at CERN, please note that the CERN sites will be closed over the holiday season from December 20 until January 4 inclusive.

Therefore, our next regular Sunday gaming session will be on January 11, 2026.

We wish all of you good time playing with your friends and families for the last weeks of 2025 - and a great start of 2026!

It's Christmas season and a great time to throw another chess tournament, before everyone heads home for the holidays!
Don't hesitate to join even if this would be your first chess tournament, everyone is welcome regardless of chess skills!

🕑 When: Sunday 07/12 at 14:00
📍 Where: R1 (board games section)
⌛ Time control: 10' + 5"
♟  Format: Swiss (5 rounds) with mini-RR among people tied for 1st place if necessary
💲 Free!

Registration link: https://forms.gle/CpaSb6PnxNhn7AXp6

The Chess section of the Games Club is becoming active once again and we'll be throwing another casual chess tournament in R1 for everyone to join!
Don't hesitate even if this would be your first chess tournament, everyone is welcome regardless of chess skills!

🕑 When: Sunday 19/10 at 14:00
📍 Where: R1 (board games section)
⌛ Time control: 10' + 5"
♟  Format: Swiss with 5 or 6 rounds, depending on the number of participants (limited to 32)

Registration link: https://forms.gle/Yrdd82SMUQMFAkw3A

Interested in tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons and Dragons and Call of Cthulhu? Never played before? A veteran?

Whatever your experience, we'd love to have you! The CERN Games Club is hosting a game social for all experience levels on Friday 9th May at 18h00 at CERN's Restaurant 1. There'll be a load of Game Masters hosting drop-in sessions of a variety of different games, providing a great opportunity to meet other players, chat about games, and to gather together one or two new RPG groups.

Everyone is welcome, even if you have never played before.

If you do not have a CERN access badge, please register for the event here, otherwise just show up! If you have any questions or comments, you can post on the RPG Channel on Mattermost.

For external visitors: go to this link (CERNmap) if you are walking from the CERN tram stop to see how to get from the main gate to building 501, also known as Restaurant 1.

 

Another eventful (and for CERN, quite successful!) has passed. Many games have seen the tables, and new colleagues have joined us for our regular sessions.

In particular for those not at CERN, please note that the CERN sites will be closed over the holiday season from December 23 until January 5 inclusive.

Therefore, our next regular Sunday gaming session will be on January 12, 2025.

We wish all of you good time with your families and a good start of 2025 (perhaps with a game or two :-))

Do you play pen-and-paper Role-Playing Games (RPGs) like Dungeons and Dragons—or are you merely curious?

The Games Club is hosting a social get-together for RPG players, potential players and Game Masters after work on Friday 13th September at 18h00 in CERN Restaurant 1. This will be a chance to meet each other, chat about games and possibly to gather together one or two new RPG groups. Everyone is welcome, even if you have never played before.

If you have any questions or comments, you can post on the RPG channel on Mattermost.

We are happy to announce the Games Club Summer BBQ 2024, taking place at the BBQ Area on the Prevessin site of CERN, on Sunday 21 July 2024 starting from 16:00. There will be food, tables and (obviously) games provided. If you would like to bring along some salads, drinks, desserts or some of your own games, you are most welcome to. We will chat, play and eat for as long as it lasts.

For organizational reasons (mainly for us to know how much food to bring), please sign up - for once even if you already have access to CERN. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

Please note that the CERN Prevessin site is not easily reachable via public transport from CERN Meyrin. If you plan to come from Meyrin by public transport, or if you pass by car via Meyrin and could offer a lift, we have created a BBQ Mattermost channel to organize car pooling. There is also a TPG bus stop (line 66) in front of CERN Prevessin reachable via Ferney-Voltaire.

This year's annual general meeting (AGM) of the Games Club will be held on Sunday March 3rd at 17:00 in R1.

The purpose of the meeting is to report on the status of the club and elect a committee for 2024. The meeting is open to everyone, so we encourage you all to attend!

Of course, we will have our usual Sunday gaming session before (and possibly after) the AGM.

If you would like to have a particular topic discussed at the AGM, please let the committee know via Mattermost or e-mail, so we can put it on the agenda.