AM’s Spassky Hay chess challenge
He may try to make shrewd political moves, but Welsh Assembly Member Peter Black could be facing checkmate.
The Liberal Democrat AM for South West Wales is among 20 challengers to face former world chess champion Boris Spassky at the Hay Festival.
Mr Black, who used to be in his university chess team, will be raising money for charity.
The Russian famously lost the world championship to American Bobby Fischer at the height of the Cold War in 1972.
Victory for Fischer in that showdown in Iceland ended 35 years of Soviet domination at the top of the game.
But while Spassky’s next opponents at the festival in Hay on-Wye, Powys, may be less well known, they will include the AM who 20 years ago won the west Wales chess league.
Today Mr Black plays only for fun and he said he was not holding out much hope of beating the 71-year-old.
“It will be interesting to see how many moves I can make,” said Mr Black, who is also a councillor in Swansea for the Cwmbwrla ward.
“If I can do 10 moves I will be happy.
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How did Mr. Black do?