Getting whopped in a game of chess by your girlfriend’s little brother isn’t the kind of impression a man wants to make on a date.

It proved the right motivation for Lyle Butterfield. After he sharpened his skills, he set up the Bermuda Chess League.

He’s hosting a kickoff event for anyone with a passion for the game at the Berkeley Institute on Saturday from 10am to 6pm.

“Growing up all my friends that went to West Pembroke Primary School played chess from young, so from them I learned and practised how to play,” the 31-year-old said.

“I didn’t actively start playing until approximately five years ago while living in Toronto, Canada. One day at a party, the little brother to a girl that I was dating beat me real bad in chess. Right there and then the competitive side of me, combined with a little bit of ego, kicked in.

“I kept playing everyone I could until I went back and eventually beat him. My passion for it grew from there.”

Mr Butterfield wants other people to be just as excited about the game.

He hopes to see some of the Island’s best and brightest players competing against each other this weekend.

It’s also a chance for those new to the game to find out what all the fuss is about.

Chess is a two-player strategy board game. It’s considered one of the world’s most popular games and played by millions of people.

In Bermuda its fans are both young and old, according to Mr Butterfield.

He described it as quite an “addictive game” and said it’s something that can be played for hours due to its stimulating and entertaining nature.

“Chess can also be the catalyst to get people of different backgrounds interacting with each other,” he said.

“One of the reasons I started Bermuda Chess League was to give young people something positive to do. Chess is a good exercise for the brain. It can improve critical thinking and sharpen skills.

“From it you can learn how to prioritise, when to sacrifice, and think more than one step in advance.

“Research shows that playing too much video games can artificially lower one’s patience, but playing a lot of chess can actually improve that. I also feel that if young people are playing chess, it means they’re not out running in the streets getting into trouble.”

One of Mr Butterfield’s ultimate goals is to get all of Bermuda’s best players registered with the World Chess Federation also known as FIDE. He’d like to see the Island regularly represented in international tournaments.

“There are already some Bermudian chess players who are registered with FIDE and who travel to compete,” he said.

“I didn’t know that until recently. There are many others here in Bermuda who love chess, but don’t know that’s an option open to them.

“I myself aim to represent Bermuda in future competitions and want all the best players to do so as well. It would be a dream come true to see Bermuda become a force in the international chess community.” The event will also be a launching pad for the league’s new website.

Mr Butterfield encourages anyone with an interest in the game to come out to the free kickoff event.

“If you don’t know how to play you can come out and watch people or even try it for yourself,” he said. “This is open to all — young, old, Bermudian and the expat community.

“I’d especially like to attract those people who might be new to the Island and who don’t know a lot of chess players in Bermuda. I feel this would be a great place to meet some new opponents.”

Register your e-mail at Bermudachessleague.com, so you can stay up-to-date with future events or tournaments. Or visit Facebook page: Bermuda Chess League.