The premiere chess experience is coming back to the city of Compton.
Your favorite neighborhood chess event is back—Make A Move LA is coming back to the city of Compton for a second round. Founder and creator of Make A Move LA, Jerimiah Payne, is excited to bring his one-of-a-kind chess experience back to the community.
“I’m excited for Make A Move Compton Part 2,” said Payne. “We’re partnering with Councilmember Andre Spicer of Compton’s District 2 to bring chess back to the city in an electrifying way.”
He continued, “Councilman Spicer has been a longtime supporter of Make A Move LA. After an incredible response to our 2023 event, the community asked for it to return—and we answered.”
Payne was born and raised in the West Adams district of Los Angeles and attended both Dorsey High School and West Adams High School.
“I’ve always had a passion for the performing arts, and I developed an interest in chess after learning the game from my older brother,” said Payne. “One day, I had the idea to combine the two— and that’s how Make A Move LA was born.”
Payne shared it started as a way to bring the South-Central community closer together through the game of chess, but now, has evolved into something much bigger.
“Today, it’s an entertainment-driven chess experience that connects people across cultures and cities around the world,” said Payne.
Make A Move LA is a nonprofit organization founded in 2022. The events feature a unique blend of competitive chess and entertainment, including a Halftime Show with local performers, a live DJ, and their signature wax king pieces.
“When a player loses, their wax king gets lit up—adding a dramatic and memorable twist to the game,” said Payne.
They also currently run two core programs: Make A Move In The Community and Make A Move On Campus.
Make A Move In The Community is a chess tournament experience co-produced with local leaders and residents, empowering the community to take an active role in the event.
Make A Move On Campus brings their format to colleges, offering students hands-on opportunities in event production, performance and volunteer roles.
“The initiative creates a space where chess players, performing arts students, and general volunteers collaborate to build school spirit and gain real-world experience,” said Payne.
In 2023, Make A Move LA partnered with the Howard University Chess Club to host an event on campus. Students participated in the Halftime Show, assisted with production and helped unite the campus.
On June 8, Make A Move Compton Part 2 will take place at the Dollarhide Community Center from 12 PM to 4 PM. This is a free event open to the entire community.
“Youth players can register for free and compete for cash prizes, while adult players can enter the tournament with a small donation,” said Payne. “The winner will also qualify for our end-of-summer $3,000 Grand Prize Tournament.”
Payne is a community guy, he loves his community and his events are proof positive of that. He shared he is always looking to connect with others to keep Make A Move LA a place for the community. The key word is—community.
“We’re always looking to partner with colleges, organizations, and community leaders, who are passionate about creating safe, engaging spaces for our communities and campuses,” said Payne.
For more information on Make A Move LA, visit www.makeamovela.org
