Whenever I go to Greece, I try to spend at least one evening playing chess with the locals. This time, a couple of weeks ago, the visit was to a pretty new chess club in Athens, named (appropriately enough) the Athens Chess Club. It’s a nice space, well-lit, with a little beverage bar that’s good for patrons and the club alike. There’s plenty of info and pictures on their Facebook page, and I heartily recommend that you stop in the next time you’re in Athens. (But don’t stay in Athens: go around the country, visit the islands, etc.)
The club is run and maybe owned by IM Nikos Kalesis, who was a friendly host during my visit. We played several games, and I’ll show one which, admittedly, doesn’t present him in his best light, but it’s entertaining enough to be worth a look. To make up for it, I’m also including the highest-rated player he has beaten in my database. Have a look, but more importantly, visit the Athens Chess Club!