Chess in New York City
editChess has been a popular sport and recreational activity in New York City for over 100 years. There have been numerous tournaments played in the city, including the world championship in 1995 and 2018. In addition to clubs, chess is also played in city parks.
Early history
editCompetitive chess
editStreet chess
editStreet chess is played in several parks, among them Washington Square, Union Square, Bryant Park, and Central Park.[1] Historically, Washington Square Park has been a popular venue for street chess – as Bobby Fischer had played there – though The Villager reported in 2013 that many players had shifted to Union Square Park due to higher foot traffic.[2] Street chess players play fast chess with passers-by for three to five dollars a game, with time controls of five minutes on each side being the most common.[3] Writer Lauren Snetiker at the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation also documents this migration of the historical Washington Square Park chess scene to Union Square, noting the "dozens of chess players [who] sit on crates and bring their own boards... as there are no permanent ones like there are in Washington Square Park".[4]
References
edit- ^ Carmel, Julia (June 15, 2022). "Chess in the Park in New York City". The New York Times. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ^ Hines, Lael (August 8, 2008). "Chess moves: Most players are now at Union Square". The Villager. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- ^ Roma, Giancarlo (December 29, 2014). "A Black and White Game: The Chess Players of Union Square". Vice. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
- ^ Snetiker, Lauren (September 3, 2015). "Checkmate!: Street Chess in the Village". Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. Retrieved October 15, 2015.