Life Size Chess Battle Royale: MyFoxMEMPHIS.com
Life Size Chess Battle Royale
Updated: Friday, 06 Apr 2012, 6:19 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 06 Apr 2012, 6:19 PM CDT
Memphis, Tn – Take the characters from a classic board game. Mix in militaristic strategies, portrayed with almost theatrical pomp and add various doses of modern-day competitive “trash-talk.”
Welcome to the 2nd annual Life-Size Chess Tourney held on the lovely campus of Jackson State Community College in Jackson, Tennessee. With happy volunteers willing to don tee-shirts designating their position on the makeshift board (think
Twister only there’s definitely no groping involved) previously played games by the school’s chess club members come to life before your very eyes. The roles of vying Chessmasters were assumed by club members Chad Powers and Kyle Pettigrew.
“We’re all having fun. Got people here involved. Just a fun way to come out have fun…maybe shank somebody on the side,” said Pettigrew.
Kings, Queens, Bishops, Knights, Rooks and pawns individually fall by the wayside in the ebb and flow of the spirited games. Granted the level of play can be both fun and intense as pieces face-off against each other on their way to a checkmate.
“It’s all dependent on the players and the strategy they sue. We just finished a game that was sixty moves long. That’s pretty long for a normal game. But, the game before that was only 17 moves,” said Powers.
No one seemed to advance as fast in the game as Jay Maddox who proved worthier than his original pawn status by ending up being elevated, by a costume change, to queen.
“Not all pawns get to be promoted. So, I was very excited,” he said.
After today’s 60 move blockbuster of a game, this year’s tourney came to a thrilling conclusion with the surrender of the black king. Speaking of kings, what do you think reclusive Chessmaster Bobby Fisher might think if he saw Friday’s game?
“No one can predict Bobbie Fisher. He’s one of the most unpredictable people of all times,” said Maddox.
I don’t know…I think the “trash-talking” would be right up his alley.
Source: http://www.myfoxmemphis.com
Seems like fun.