Mexico claims world chess record!

MEXICO CITY — Mexico City’s largest square was jammed Sunday with some 14,000 chess players who claimed a new Guinness record for the largest number of simultaneously played games.

So many showed up, in fact, that nearly as many were turned away from Mexico’s El Zocalo. Some 23,000 were registered, but “only” 14,065 could cram into the square.

“We expected about 13,000 players and we have 23,000 registered,” said Mayor Alejandro Encinas as he made the first move on a giant chess board. “We have broken the Guinness record.”

Organizers said the effort topped the current Guinness record by nearly 1,700 players, set in nearby Pachuca, Mexico in June, 2005.

However, they must await confirmation before the Guinness Records will be amended, as the record book demands.

All ages, skills and social standings played, and 602 masters took on as many as 24 opponents at a time.

Congratulations to Mexico City!