Kevin Bachler: A Lifelong Commitment to Chess and the Community

Kevin Bachler: A Lifelong Commitment to Chess and the Community

 

    Kevin pictured in front of the Caveman Chess Club

Bachler’s love for chess began in his youth, when he received his first chess set at 11 years old. By the time he was 14, in 1971, he had already begun organizing and directing minor chess tournaments while in Junior High. From there, Bachler’s passion for the game continued to grow. Known for his highly tactical playstyle, he was often told he “played like a caveman” – a description that would later inspire the name of his chess club. During his college years, Bachler’s chess skills advanced to the point where he became an expert player. He began teaching chess and organizing tournaments, and soon after, he achieved the coveted title of master. 

In the 1990s, as his son became involved in chess, Bachler shifted and took a more active role in youth chess. He started a chess club at his son’s school when he was in the third grade. Under his guidance, the club excelled. In three consecutive years, the team finished in the top five in the national championships – and received first in the nation in the third year. As  5th graders before state and nationals, they were also playing in the junior high division because there was insufficient competition within their own age range.

Bachler’s involvement in chess continued to grow throughout the years. By 1997, he began running national chess camps during the summer. These camps provided a unique opportunity for young chess players to practice and play with some of the strongest teachers in the country, while also meeting like-minded children. His camps quickly became some of the largest in the nation, where he himself has the largest chess camp run nationwide.

While Bachler’s career in finance kept him from fully dedicating himself to chess for many years, his love for the game never waned. Upon retiring, he was able to devote more time to his true passion. In pursuit of a lifelong dream, he founded the Caveman Chess Center, a place that would bring respect and positivity to the chess community.

 

    

           Inside of the Caveman Chess Club

To Bachler, The Caveman Chess Center is more than just a place for playing chess – it’s a community focused on fostering respect within the game and getting more people involved in this wonderful game. This is because Bachler finds respect to be the most important quality that should be emphasized within chess, and his club serves as a platform for all players to interact and learn from each other. The club will officially open its doors later this month, with tournaments held in the evenings and on weekends, with typical hours ranging from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Bachler’s career as a competitive player is not without its standout moments. One of the most memorable came during the Janesville Chess Anniversary Open in 1980, where he delivered a spectacular performance. As a low expert player, Bachler managed to beat two 2400-rated opponents in a row and went on to win the tournament with a score of 4.5/5. This victory remains one of his proudest and most tactically sound moments in the game, cementing himself as “The Caveman”.

 

 

 

 

                          Article from ICB (Illinois Chess Bulletin) supplied by Kevin Bachler

 

           Games courtesy of Kevin Bachler

Beyond his work with the Caveman Chess Club, Bachler is also focused on giving back to the chess community. One of his most recent initiatives is the Caveman Chess Charities, which among many things, especially focuses on  Blind Players, which aims to make chess more accessible for visually impaired players. One of the charity's projects includes implementing blind game notation with ChessBase, enabling blind players to more easily use digital readers to read the information given by ChessBase, or a likewise software. Additionally, Bachler is working on creating a template and accompanying program that will allow tournament information to be published in a streamlined format, saving time and effort for organizers.

As Bachler continues to inspire and teach, his dedication to the game of chess remains unwavering. Whether it’s through coaching, running national camps, organizing a chess club, or his charitable efforts, Bachler is committed to making the chess community a better place for all. Despite all that, with plans to expand his charity efforts, continue running his club, and foster a new generation of chess players, Kevin Bachler’s legacy in the world of chess is far from over.

 

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