Chicago Chess Club (II)

The Chicago Chess Club at 1149 W. Lunt Ave. in Rogers Park was started in 1994 by Albert Chow, Chris Baumgartner and the building's owner, Fred "Papa Dee" Riccardi. It was not connected with the Chicago Chess and Checker Club (known as the Chicago Chess Club since 1961), which had met most recently at the No Exit Café in Rogers Park before dissolving between 1980 and 1984. Baumgartner left the organization early on, and Chow left two years later. They were followed in their leadership roles by Marvin Dandridge, Thomas Kirke, Bill Smythe and Steve Spiszjak. The club was noteworthy for its high frequency of rated events, in particular quick-chess tournaments.

A severe car accident in 1998 paralyzed Riccardi, who died a year later. The subsequent owner of the building evicted all tenants in December 2000, and the club did not re-form (though two tournaments were held under the Chicago Chess Club name and affiliate in March 2002).