In late July, our colleagues in Spain turned International Chess Day into something special: an office tournament that had little to do with trophies and everything to do with learning from one another.

A different kind of chess

Instead of the classic one-on-one format, the team chose Hand & Brain. One person decided which piece to move, the other figured out how. The mix of concentration and chaos quickly filled the room with laughter –and plenty of lively debates about the “right” move. What stood out? Collaboration only worked when trust, communication and quick thinking came together.

Two journeys into the game

For Javier, Teamlead Technics Iberoamerica, chess has been part of life since he was six years old. He went on to win youth championships in Madrid and even became a certified coach and arbiter. What fascinates him most: every match tells a new story, combining creativity, intellect and strategy, while connecting people from very different backgrounds.

Juan Diego, Sales Manager Iberica, also discovered chess early on. During his university years, he trained with Colombia’s top player and later reached the national top 20. For him, the magic lies in the constant variety: no two games are ever alike, so players are always challenged to rethink and adapt.

Lessons for everyday work

Both see parallels to their work at meteocontrol. As Javier puts it: “An engineer needs to analyze situations, anticipate several steps ahead and adjust solutions just like in chess.” For Juan Diego in sales, it’s about forecasting, anticipating reactions and adjusting the strategy in order to win over partners and clients.

From their reflections, three lessons stand out:

• Think ahead – anticipate developments and prepare responses.
• Stay flexible – adjust when the situation changes.
• Work together – combine strengths for the best outcome.

From a local match to a global idea

What started as a lunchtime activity quickly grew into something bigger. Beginners picked up tips from seasoned players, while experienced colleagues enjoyed sharing their knowledge. The enthusiasm sparked an idea: to launch an online chess tournament open to all meteocontrol employees worldwide. Soon, colleagues from different regions will be able to meet virtually across the chessboard and strengthen the #onemc spirit in a playful way.

What we practice on the chessboard, thinking ahead, adapting and working as a team is exactly what drives us forward in our projects.