Chess bridges cultural divide

A BATTLE of epic proportions is taking place in Dandenong and it’s happening under all of our noses.

Pawns are being cut down in their prime as the kings and queens run scared on a giant rubber chess mat at Dandenong Plaza.

The black-and-white mat is a dream come true for those who find window shopping a chore.

>>Watch our video interview of some of the chess-lovers (above)

“My wife does the shopping and I play chess,” Dumitru Cupsa told Leader after beating Hekruan Celo in a battle royal.

“Chess is not a game of luck – it’s a mind war.

“The deeper you think, the better you are. It’s like reading minds, you know his next move.”

The chess mat is quite easy to find; just look out for would-be shoppers huddled together pointing and shouting out tips – in any number of foreign tongues.

“We understand each other through chess,” Mr Cupsa said.

He first started playing chess when he was 14, working as a shepherd in Romania.

“It was by accident really … a fellow friend brought a board to the field.

“He taught me how to move because his father played chess.

“I find it interesting and slowly, slowly started building some strategies and getting better.”

Mr Cupsa is a regular on the mat on level three of the shopping centre, outside Safeway.

“There are things you must achieve in life and among those very important things – getting married, building a house and planting a tree – is knowing how to play chess.

“It’s the best game in the world.”

Springvale South resident Rene Carrere was just a happy observer when Leader joined in the board game phenomenon.

“I don’t know much about chess,” Mr Carrere said.

“I am still learning, but I might build up the courage to play one day.”

Source: http://dandenong-leader.whereilive.com.au