Barbershop Hosts Community Chess Tournament Led By Detective Cookie Bouldin

A local barbershop in Seattle’s Rainier Valley transformed into a chess arena Sunday, where a tournament brought together youth, police officers, and community members for an afternoon of strategy, mentorship, and intergenerational connection. The Sunday Barbershop Chess Tournament was organized by Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin, barbershop owner Jameel Shabazz, and the Washington Chess Federation.

The event took place at J Styles Barbershop, a neighborhood fixture and cultural hub in Seattle’s Black community. The tournament combined chess—a game known for building critical thinking—with a space historically used for dialogue, mentorship, and community support.

“Chess, anybody can play chess, anybody can learn chess,” said Bouldin. “You don’t have to be the biggest, the tallest, the fastest, or the smartest. You don’t even have to speak the same language.”

Bouldin collaborated with Shabazz, founder of Project Impact, to launch the tournament with the aim of sparking meaningful conversations between generations, professionals, and local residents.

“We made it happen, and it was so wonderful,” said Bouldin. “He [J Styles] got several of his customers, adults and youth to participate, and I got several of my chess club members, adults and youngsters to participate in this Sunday barbershop challenge.”

Bouldin described the energy of the tournament as powerful and unique.

“It was wonderful to bring the generations together—to see the adults and their children, their fathers and their mothers and their sons and daughters playing chess together at one location. It has never happened here in Seattle to my knowledge,” said Bouldin. “I’ve seen it in other places like Chicago and New York, but never here.”

Shabazz, speaking on behalf of Project Impact, described the event’s purpose as much broader than competition.

“This is a chess tournament that’s put on by Project Impact, Det. Cookie, and the Washington Chess Federation,” said Shabazz. “Impact stands for Empowering Minds for Positive Action and Community Transformation. We bring community members together in an environment where, through gameplay, they have intellectual and communicable interaction between generations, law enforcement, and different people in the community.”

Bouldin echoed the goal of using chess to break down barriers between police officers and the community.

“Let’s do this. What better way to bring the community, the police department, the chess club, and the barbershop together?” said Bouldin. “During this event, I had people asking how they could become a police officer.”

Bouldin has led community-based chess programs for eight years, beginning with a club at Rainier Beach Community Center. The program has expanded to schools, libraries, and outdoor spaces. In recognition of the initiative, the city dedicated a public chess park in the Rainier Beach neighborhood in Bouldin’s name.

“Stories like that are proof of the game’s potential not just to educate, but to transform,” said Bouldin, recalling one student who grew from a shy participant to a mentor who taught chess to peers and even to parents.

The Washington Chess Federation partnered in organizing the event and emphasized the cognitive and social value of chess. President Josh Sinanan explained the benefits of the game for youth.

“Chess is a really great game for kids,” said Sinanan. “It’s one of the only activities that teaches them executive decision-making skills. They’re in charge of an army of plastic pieces, and they have to figure out what to do with them. It also builds empathy, critical thinking, and social skills.”

Vice President Rekha Sagar highlighted the game’s academic impact and therapeutic potential.

“I want kids to learn to make good decisions in their life, and chess is here to help every single kid understand what that takes,” said Sagar. “It improves memory and concentration, which can translate into their academics. It teaches how to face challenges, focus on strategies, and consider consequences.”

Sagar noted that children with social anxiety or attention challenges often gain confidence through the game’s structure and social engagement.

Bouldin and Shabazz plan to expand the initiative by organizing similar tournaments in beauty salons, parks, and schools throughout the city.