Chess in Melbourne

2 comments

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  Tom Panelas says:

  August 3, 2007 at 3:09 pm

  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.

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  Anonymous says:

  August 3, 2007 at 3:55 pm

  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.