I am Gerald Drißner, currently living in Berlin. Growing up in Austria, I played a lot of chess and spent many nights in chess cafés.
I have traveled widely and lived in several countries. Yet, I always struggled to find a local chess café — a spot to play blitz and meet like-minded people.
That is why I built 64.place: a global directory for chess locations.
Locals and travelers often need a place to play chess, enjoy food and drinks, and soak up the atmosphere. Chess brings people together like nothing else. Nobody cares about your age, background, or bank account. Chess cafés are unique spots where people connect over a shared passion for 64 squares.
This project exists to highlight the places that give chess players a home.
I want this website to grow into a worldwide directory of these locations. Listings cover everything from public parks with active scenes to welcoming chess clubs.
The site is entirely free to use—my way of giving back to the chess community.
German chess journalist and podcaster Michael Busse recently interviewed me about the origins and vision behind 64.place. We talked about how and why I built this global chess map. → Read the full interview (in German).
