CHESS TOURISM: DISCOVER A WORLD OF CHESS

Chess, iceland

“I’m going to teach you a game” a father said to his five-year-old daughter.

Inquisitively she looked up and saw sixty-four black and white squares laid perfectly across a wooden board. In that moment she metaphorically dropped her Barbie doll, pushed aside her teddy bear, and listened to her father more intently than she had ever listened to him before.

She precariously picked up each piece with wonder, as though realising she was in front of something special. And she learnt the names of all the pieces and how they moved and, overnight it became her favourite game.

***

For anyone who personally knows me, they will know I’m talking about myself. Since I was little chess has been my favourite game and I’ve played it sometimes to the point of obsession. There’s something about playing chess that grabs my attention and makes me forget my surroundings and all other engagements. This however, doesn’t mean I’m a professional chess player or that I could even be described as good – far, far from it – but still, I enjoy few things more than a game of chess.

However, a lack of chess related outlets in the UK can be annoying. If you want to buy a new chess set or have a game with a random person that usually has to be found online – it’s no wonder chess players have a reputation for being introverts!

This frustration doesn’t happen everywhere though;  from my travels I’ve learnt a few countries have a very prominent chess scene that would satisfy the utmost chess fanatics. The best place in the world for chess lovers is New York City. You can head over to Washington Square Park or the Chess House in Central Park and practise your Sicilian Defence and Gambit against a wide range of people hailing from all walks of life. Playing the game is a great way to meet new people; it opens you up to friendships that wouldn’t otherwise occur.

Since those early days with my father, I’ve played chess with homeless guys in Santa Barbara, had my ass kicked by a grandmaster in Amsterdam, played speed chess in Philadelphia, checkmated in China, and seen the world’s oldest Chess board in the British Museum. But I still haven’t been to Reykjavik where the Match of the Century was played, and where after years of turbulence, Bobby Fischer made his home up until his death in 2008; nor have I been to Russia to pay my respect to some of history’s greatest players… I’m hoping deluding myself that one day the ridiculously gorgeous Garry Kasparov will find me 🙂

chess oslo norway
I love my knights!

Chess in Norway
A guy I met in a youth hostel weeps as I relish in my victory hehe 😀

Chess shop Turkey
Chess Sets: You’re spoilt for choice in Turkey.

Chess square in Amsterdam
Observing the chess moves in Max Euweplein Square, Amsterdam.

Do you love chess too? 

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Hi, I'm Shing

Welcome to The Culture Map, a place where I share my travel guides, adventurous tales, and capture the inspiring diversity of our world.

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