Chess Masnou - The Software that makes off-line arenas possible

While Beijing is not traditionally known as a chess capital, it is home to hundreds of chess enthusiasts who seek out games at various venues, always looking for some chess action every once in a while. Unlike other Asian cities with established chess clubs and dynamics dating back to at least the pre-pandemic era, chess in Beijing has been intermittent: always trying to make the most out of any chess wave that comes and goes.
However, something changed last year, last month, and last week.

---

Topics:

1. Masnou
2. Chess Night
3. Cameras & Lights

So it happens that many seasoned players don't even know what a Masnou is. So I asked one of many AIs out there to put it simply for everyone:

A Masnou is a fast-paced, offline chess tournament where players:

1. Play back-to-back games against different opponents, like a continuous chess marathon.
2. Jump in and out freely – when you finish a game, you either get a new opponent or wait briefly in a queue.
3. Race against the clock – games are short (e.g., 3 minutes per player + a tiny time bonus per move).
4. Aim for the top – your goal is to win as many games as possible in the time limit to climb the leaderboard.

Think of it like:

• Speed dating, but for chess: Quick games, rotating opponents, and no downtime.
• Your regular lichess arena: The more you win, the higher you rank.

Key Features:

• No long waits: 2⁄3 of players are always playing; 1⁄3 are in a short queue.
• Unlimited games: Play as many matches as you can fit within the time limit.
• Simple rules: Just win, lose, or draw – no complicated bonuses or streaks.

It’s designed to mimic the excitement of online chess tournaments (like Lichess Arena) but played in person.

---

What makes the Beijing Masnou special? We initially held one in 2021, but soon we recognized that using pen and paper to organize a Masnou in the age of supercomputers was impractical, so we had to update.

Here I'll drop the link for those out there wanting to give it a try (and the best part: it's open-source, so feel free to improve it as long as you credit the main developers: US!).

Masnou Management Software

How did this come about?
I'm gonna keep it short (LIKE FOR REAL), I shared my vision with my friend Wael on a subway ride. Within an hour, he provided a program outlining the basic layout and functionality of the updated version. The following month, Ricardo, a former student and skilled chess programmer, refined the initial software.

How and why did we want to test it?
Our little club hosts a weekly Chess Night on Thursday evenings. While cold weather often scare players away, as Spring approached, we recognized the need to offer more than casual play to maintain their enthusiasm (in addition to GREAT beer at Overtone Taproom 北新桥店). Last Saturday, we successfully held a Masnou with 7 tables, a large screen, 21 participants, a 3+1 time control, and 90 minutes of gameplay... now with technology on our side.

Want to see the result?
Check our YouTube Channel, where we posted some insights of what transpired on and off the board.

2nd Beijing Masnou - Arena Style Chess

Why do we have a YouTube channel?
Well, points one and two are already explained, but let's break down the whole 3. Cameras & Lights thing. Just telling our local chess peeps, 'Hey, we've got a chess night where you can come and forget about work stress and life's headaches,' that's not the same as actually showing them. So, that's why ChessInBeijing, our channel, came to be. Besides just posting videos of the games, which might encourage players to go back and look at their moves online, we also put up a weekly recap. This recap's got some of the funniest, most absurd, and totally iconic moments from our 4-5 hour long gatherings. And the result? We've gone from having like, four regular faces to now having 30 or more players every week.

Do consider supporting us by subscribing to our YouTube channel, we may, one day, post something you may like or find interesting (maybe, very soon, even a software update). We don't teach chess, but we do enjoy banter and the game itself. Chess In Beijing

Thank you! 谢谢!