In the middle of one of the busiest sidewalks in Melbourne, people take time to stop and play chess, watch chess …
Source: StreetsBlog.org
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Chess in Melbourne
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Another good promotional idea for chess here in the U.S. Look, people like chess; they really do. You bring out chess in a crowd and people flock to it.
Here in Chicago, a gentleman named Cecil Locke brings chess boards out on tables at Millenium Park, and when he’s not being chased away by the authorities he always has plenty of walk-up players.
Someone said recently, “Chess is like ginger ale. No one thinks about bringing it, but people love it when someone remembers it.”
I think that gets it exactly right. People don’t always clamor for chess, but if you give it to them they like it. The more so, I think, when they least expect to see it.
Let’s remember this as we try to promote the game.
I wonder how often the big pieces need to be replaced?
I like to think that even vandalistic-minded kids would respect the public’s chess set enough to avoid harming the pieces.
Chess has an aura that is respected.
Probably a business owner in the square brings the pieces inside nightly — a hassle he considers worthwhile.