Victor Wembanyama made a special appearance at a park in New York City on Saturday, engaging with fans in a unique way by playing 1-on-1 chess games. Interestingly, he did face some defeats during his time there, but they weren’t in basketball; instead, they were on the chessboard.
He is well-acquainted with the game and even came prepared with his own chess set. Before the San Antonio Spurs departed New York for their next game against Minnesota, Wembanyama extended an invitation via social media, stating, “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? I’m there.” This message was posted early in the morning, at 9:36 a.m., and fans began gathering right away.
Washington Square Park is renowned for its vibrant chess scene, having hosted legendary players, including Bobby Fischer, and has also served as a backdrop for numerous films depicting chess games. Wembanyama spent about an hour there, braving the rain from 10 to 11 a.m. During that time, he played four games, managing to win two and lose two. He later shared with Bleacher Report that both of his losses came against professional chess players before he had to rush off to catch the Spurs’ flight.
Wembanyama had been eager to find a suitable moment to play chess during the Spurs’ stay in New York, especially since the team had recently faced the Knicks on Christmas and secured a victory over Brooklyn on Friday night. His schedule had been tight, but Saturday morning finally provided the perfect opportunity—rain or shine.
The event drew a crowd of dedicated fans who braved the chilly, rainy conditions to meet and compete with one of the NBA’s rising stars. Wembanyama was gracious, taking time to pose for pictures with many attendees who came to share in the experience.
After wrapping up his chess sessions, Wembanyama took to social media once more to suggest the idea of an exclusive NBA player chess tournament, with the proceeds going to the winner’s charity of choice.
This season, Wembanyama is having an impressive performance, averaging 25.2 points and 10.1 rebounds. It marks his second year in the NBA after being crowned rookie of the year last season, and the Spurs are set to face Minnesota on Sunday.
