In 1998 Dr. Cindy Kalogeropolous asks Rishi Sethi, a fourth-grader who has just won a national chess tournament, if he would like to start a chess club at the Grove Avenue School where she is Principal.  The Grove Avenue Chess club is born, beginning a chess newsletter as well as playing chess and volunteering to teach chess.

In 1999, Hough Street Chess Club is born with the help of teacher Maggie Gruber.

In 2001 Rishi Sethi asks his teacher Mr Moeller if he can start a chess club at his middle school. Rishi launches a chess club at Prairie Middle School.   Parents and chess students continue the activities started at Grove Avenue School, playing, teaching chess and volunteering at a local nursing home where an elderly chess player is found.

In June 2002, a beginners' chess tournament is held at Whole Foods grocery store in Barrington. Rishi Sethi asks the store to donate money and space for the tournament. Money from tournament buys chess sets for Barrington.

In the summer of 2002 Rishi and his grandfather volunteer to teach chess at the South East Asia Refuge Center in Chicago to children who are new immigrants and speak little English. His sister was a volunteer teacher for the summer at the center and she invited Rishi to teach chess to her students.

In August 2002, the Governors Park Nursing Home Chess Tournament is held in Barrington, money and space donated by the nursing home.

In November 2002, the Sherman Hospital Chess Tournament is held, money and space donated by the Elgin hospital. $ 1000 donated for the new BHS Chess Club.

In February 2003, the first Barrington High School Chess Tournament is held.

In April 2003, Rishi Sethi, a former Barrington High School student, is certified as a Tournament Director for the US Chess Foundation.

In May 2003, the first grandmaster simultaneous chess match is held at Barrington High School, 50 students challenging GM Pavel Blatny from the Czech Republic. $ 400 donated to buy chess sets for underprivileged schools.

May 2003, Rishi Sethi and other chess friends serve as Tournament Director for a chess tournament at Grove Avenue School. He occasionally volunteered at his old school in order to help with any problems in the club.

In the summer of 2003, chess students volunteer at Governors Park Nursing Home, and in August a tournament is held at the nursing home.

During summer, 2003, a chess art exhibit is held in collaboration between the Barrington Area Art Council and the BHS Chess Club.

In November 2003, the Heifer International Chess Tournament is held, several chess students volunteering at this event and the money collected donated to charity. ($ 1500 donated)

January 2004

5 chess sets are secured for donation to the Spina Bifida Foundation with the idea of promoting chess among children in wheelchairs.

The BHS Chess Club publishes a chess newspaper, “The Chess Revolution,”

In January 2004, the BHS Chess Club secures a donation of 20 chess sets for children in the Marshall Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean, with the purpose of starting a chess club there in the local school, this being done through a program run by Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and the BHS Chess Club. (Donation of 240$ given by Mr Stevan Yacktman and $ 200 from Alexian Brothers Hospital Network.) Nina Sethi, a volunteer through Dartmouth College runs the club.

Grandmaster Yury Shulman originally from Belarus, is persuaded by Rishi Sethi to come to BHS, once again to hold a simultaneous chess match against 50 chess students, the chess club donating a portion of the entry fees to a local charity Citizens for Conservation in Barrington. ($100 donated)

February 2004

BHS Chess Club organized another elementary school chess club in Barrington, several high school students volunteer as teachers and serve as role models for the elementary students.

March 2004

BHS Chess Club initiated a "Learn and Earn" program where chess students are paid to teach chess in the local schools.; also in March, 2004,  a BHS Chess Coach Certification program is begun.

Barrington High School Chess team is the Mid Suburban League Champion.

April 2004

Rishi asks GM Shulman to prepare lessons for the Countryside Chess Club, which has 72 members, & in May 2004, a Countryside chess tournament is held, with Rishi Sethi and Patrick Lacey as tournament directors.   

June 2004

Grandmaster Yury Shulman is invited to Countryside where a blind chess match is held between Mr. Shulman and two Countryside students.

GM Shulman holds a chess camp. The Grandmaster Chess Camp is held at BHS, and the BHS Chess Club and GM Yury Shulman donate $150 to the International Charity, Food Resource Bank.

Rishi Sethi from BHS wins 9th place at the US Junior Open Chess Tournament in Kansas.

July 2004

High school students, Patrick Lacey and Rishi Sethi, receive a Presidential Service Award for their volunteer work in the community for promoting chess. They were awarded medals for volunteering over 100 hours for chess related activities.

Mrs. Karen Armstrong, a community leader supporting the chess program, donates an outdoor chess table to Grove Avenue Elementary School. Work done by Bertacchi Builders at cost for the school and chess program. Total cost approximately $900.

August 2004

Chess sets are donated to the Elgin Crisis Center, and a chess program is started there. Rishi and his friend David Kniesel volunteer to teach and explain the rules.

Alexian Hospital Network Chess Tournament is held, with two high school boys as tournament directors, six high school chess students training to become directors during the tournament, and a portion of the entry fees donated to the local Adult Literacy Program. ($ 100 donated)

September 2004

Local businessman Mr. Camacho hears of the Barrington Chess Club combining philanthropy with learning and invites the BHS Chess Club to teach chess at an orphanage in Mexico.

November 2004

Countryside Chess Club has six high school students volunteer as chess coaches. Parents volunteered to help the student coaches.