The timers actually have two clocks - one for each player. As one player finishes a turn, he flips a switch to turn off his clock and turn on his opponents. Games run on a time limit - but can go as long as five hours. Each player gets an initial 90 minutes for 40 moves. Time can be extended for an additional hour each.
Many players measure their chess experience in decades.
Yet, they sometimes are matched with players who themselves are not even 10 years old. And, often they lose to them. Asbury teaches chess to elementary students and is shocked by how quickly they can learn. Every year there is a new young kid who comes in just excited about chess, who understands it, can see the moves and the positions. Within a year, he's beating us all.