giant chess piece, holiday decorations, World Chess Hall of Fame

World Chess Hall of Fame

Felix Wong's avatar
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One of the great surprises about St. Louis when we first visited the city over a year ago was a giant wooden chess piece a block away from the hotel we were staying in. This piece was the largest in the world and was situated in front of the World Chess Hall of Fame. Maureen is a huge chess aficionado so she was extremely pleased that this highly strategic Western board game that originated well over 1,000 years ago was well appreciated in this city.

Even though the Chess Hall of Fame was only three blocks away from my minimalist apartment, we only now visited it. There were three floors. The first was a tribute to Ladies’ Knight: A Female Perspective. The second catered more to kids and featured a large playhouse made of giant Legos.

The third floor had plaques of the people inducted into the Hall of Fame. Bobby Fischer, of course, was one of these luminaries. However, I was both surprised and amazed that Benjamin Franklin was inducted too. Apparently, he was not only a great scientist and founding father of the United States of America, but rather good at chess too.

As for myself, I used to think I was good at chess until I was in San Francisco for a conference one day and a homeless dude challenged me to a couple games. He beat me both times within five minutes each. After that, I did not play for many years.

Even after the visit to the Chess Hall of Fame I do not think I will be taking up chess as a hobby, but it did give me a new appreciation for one of the world’s oldest board games.

giant chess piece, holiday decorations, World Chess Hall of Fame
Maureen with the world's largest chess piece at the World Chess Hall of Fame. It was decorated for the winter holidays.
Felix Wong, giant chess board outside World Chess Hall of Fame
Felix Wong moving a chess piece on the giant chess board outside World Chess Hall of Fame.
blue vs. orange chess board, World Chess Hall of Fame
Blue and orange Purling London Art Chess set by Crystal Fischetti at the World Chess Hall of Fame.
furniture chess board, World Chess Hall of Fame
A furniture chess board at the World Chess Hall of Fame
Maureen sitting on a queen chair at the World Chess Hall of Fame.
Maureen sitting on a queen chair at the World Chess Hall of Fame.
pink Check Yo Self shirt
A pink Check Yo Self shirt at the World Chess Hall of Fame gift shop.
White winter chess piece decorations outside the World Chess Hall of Fame.
White winter chess piece decorations outside the World Chess Hall of Fame.